Connectivity Guide

Jacket

A cable’s jacket is an exterior covering that protects the contents of the cable from the environment. There are a number of environmental concerns that are important to consider when choosing a jacket material:

• Mechanical protection: abrasion, impact, bending, torsion • Chemical protection: acids, oils, alkalis, solvents, water • Temperature protection: cold, heat, flame • Radiation protection: UV, EMC

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is perhaps the most common jacket material used. PVC is a relatively economical jacket material, and it can be formulated to enhance its properties, which will then offer increased performance tailored to the end-use application. Polyethylene (PE) is the jacket material of choice in environments that require continuous exposure to water, because it is much less prone to degradation under these types of conditions. Unlike PVC, polyethylene is not inherently flame retardant. Polyurethane (PUR) is a very robust compound with a variety of superior mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. It offers excellent low- temperature flexibility, abrasion, and cut-through performance. Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) is a mix of plastic and rubber and exhibits properties of both. The primary advantage of TPE over other elastomers is that it is relatively easy to process in comparison to thermoset (elastomeric) materials. TPE offers excellent aging, a wide temperature range, and resistance to weathering in some of the most extreme types of environments. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber ideal for severe conditions due to it durability and extreme abrasion resistance. It is not flame retardant and must be modified to obtain this characteristic. Silicone rubber, in addition to being used as an insulator, is also a good jacket material. Its most notable attribute is its ability to withstand operating temperatures up to 200°C. In addition, it is extremely supple, making silicone rubber suitable for a host of applications that require flexibility.

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Archived copy. For current information see: www.lappusa.com