Industrial heat shrink tubing is a versatile tool used in a variety of electrical, automotive, and general applications. It provides many benefits, like heat resistance, flexibility, and insulation.

To help you learn more about heat shrink tubing, here are some questions you might be interested to know about.

How Does Heat Shrink Tubing Work?

Heat shrink tubing is a thermoplastic heat-shrinkable product that shrinks to form a tight seal when heat is applied to it.

When heat is applied to heat-shrink tubing, the heat causes the inner diameter of the tubing to decrease while increasing its length. This creates a tight seal around the wire or component that need to be covered. The tight fit has excellent heat-resistant properties for insulation and protection.

What Types of Heat Shrink Tubing Are Available?

There are several heat shrink tubing sizes and materials available. Heat shrink tubing is typically made of polyolefin, PVC, or FEP material and comes in sizes ranging from a few fractions of an inch to several feet in length.

Polyolefin heat shrink tubing is the most common type, and it is used for general-purpose projects and provides insulation protection against abrasion, moisture, chemicals, and heat.

PVC heat shrink tubing provides excellent heat resistance and flexibility. This heat shrink tubing is a great solution for electrical insulation, bundling, and mechanical protection.

FEP heat shrink tubing is created with heat-stabilized fluoropolymers and provides superior protection against heat, chemicals, vibrations, and heat cycling. It is often used in more demanding applications and helps protect against heat, UV exposure, and friction.

How Do You Install Heat Shrink Tubing?

Installing heat shrink tubing is a relatively straightforward process. Start by measuring and cutting the heat shrink tubing to fit your application. Then, slide the heat shrink tubing over the wires or components that you want to protect. Heat the tubing with a heat gun, lamp, or another heat source.

Make sure to heat the tubing until it shrinks to fit snugly around your wire or component. Apply heat evenly, moving the heat source along its entire length. The heat should gradually reduce in intensity as the heat shrink tubing shrinks and tightens.

For some applications, heat can be applied directly. For heat shrink tubing with an adhesive liner, heat should be applied until the tubing is only slightly larger than the component it is covering. As the heat shrink tubing cools, it will shrink while the adhesive liner melts, forming a protected tight seal.

Heat shrink tubing is a versatile and effective tool for protecting wires, cables, and components in industrial applications. With this information, you can create heat-resistant, flexible insulation that will provide reliable protection for years. 

For more information, contact a local company, like Tef-Cap Industries.