28.12.2021

Why ETFE wire material is gaining popularity?
ETFE is one of the most robust materials out there and that is the reason behind it being used to manufacture high-quality wires. Here are some of the major factors that contribute to the gaining popularity of ETFE wire material.

ETFE is the acronym for ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer which is a plastic derivative of Teflon. It is a fluorine-based plastic that is frequently used as a building material in the form of ETFE membranes. It is created by extruding Teflon wires into thin films or wires. ETFE was invented by DuPont, an American conglomerate and one of the world’s largest chemical companies, in terms of sales.

The material was initially used as an insulation material for the aeronautics industry. Soon it started gaining popularity as a building material as an upgrade for the regular polythene sheets. It is largely used as a replacement for glazing due to its high light transmission properties. Some of the reasons as to why ETFE is considered as an exciting material in the electrical and electronic industry include:

High Heat Insulation: ETFE wires are highly flame retardant as they have a melting point of 270°C. They have excellent resistance to extremes of temperature.

Self-Cleaning: The material has self-cleaning quality. The special surface structure of ETFE insulated wires ensures that wind and rain are sufficient to remove dirt, reducing the cost of periodical maintenance and cleaning.

Lightness: These wires are lightweight. They weigh approximately 1% of the weight of glass.

Durable: It has a life span of more than approximately 25 years due to its durability against UV, air pollution and environmental conditions. Extensive laboratory and field research have suggested that the material can even extend its life span in excess of 40 years.

High light transmission: ETFE material is highly translucent and has light permeability of 85-95%.

Environment-friendly: The material is eco-friendly as it 100% recyclable.

Elasticity: The wires made from ETFE are high in elasticity as they continue their structural resistance as they can extend by up to 600% until torn.

Flame retardant: ETFE insulated wires are also fire resistant and have low smoke and flame characteristics. Thus the wiring material is safe.

The material has excellent chemical resistance and is odorless and nontoxic.

Energy-efficient: From extrusion to assembly, they consume significantly less energy than glass.

Weatherproof: The wires exhibit outstanding resistance to weather and aging

Wires made from ETFE material show excellent dielectric properties.

Now we know that ETFE has excellent electrical and chemical properties. Hence ETFE wires are especially suited for applications requiring high mechanical strength, high chemical resistance, and superior thermal and electrical properties. Thus it is a highly popular material to make electrical wires.

PVC Wire
PVC wire and cable are not necessarily terms you might hear every day, but they are vital elements in the makeup of cable assemblies and other manufactured products. The usual mass of cables that manufacturers and prototype designers have to deal with is one of the main reasons why we provide neat, efficient and effective cable assemblies all over the globe!

But here, we’re going to provide some insight and information on what PVC wire and cables are, the various types and their uses. Plus much more.

But first, here’s the quick summary for you, then we’ll dive into more detail.

What Is PVC Wire And Cable? PVC wire and cable are where a thermoplastic material called Polyvinyl Chloride also referred to as PVC is used for wire insulation or cable jackets. PVC wires and cables are widely used due to excellent properties such as chemical, heat and water resistance, robustness, durability, and versatility.

The only specialty in PVC wires and cables is the insulation or sheathing material used. PVC is becoming a commonly used material for many wires and cable constructions recently.

Because of this, a variety of PVC wire and cable types are now available in the market to best suit customer needs. Let’s take a look at them in detail.

Teflon Wires Uses and Benefits
Teflon is branded for its superior thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties, which allows these cables to resist higher temperatures than other hook-up wire varieties. These are considered the best heat resistant wires. There are numerous categories of Teflon wires, and each of them is considered best to a high temperature of 200 oC. Furthermore, these wires are used in many situations, where the temperature is between -65 oC and 250 oC.

Teflon wires are suggested for use in miniature cable applications and internal wiring-soldering applications where insulation melting is a significant concern. This wire insulation is better equipped to defy oil, oxidation, heat, sunlight, and flame, while also remaining flexible at low temperatures. Teflon wires provide unparalleled resistance to ozone, alcohol, water, alkalis, gasoline, acids, aromatic hydrocarbons, and solvents.

Each Teflon wire is dual-rated for Mil-spec and UL AWM styles to well suit an individual’s specific needs. Depending on which standard you need, the cables are rated to specific voltage and temperature ranges. Sometimes, these ratings differ between the Mil-Spec and UL standards.

Stranded Hook-Up Wire, FEP
FEP wire, has good resistance to extremes of temperature, compression and repeat flexing. Suitable for use in whole sealed cooking appliances, auto headlamps, internal combustion engine and mercury switches, when shock or sharp casing edges are a “wear and tear” factor.

What Is Silicone Wire?
When it comes to wires, there are enormous varieties and choices. Especially with technological developments and other related innovations, choosing a wire can be confusing. However, when there’s a discussion about wires, Silicone wires are always one that appears.

What Is Silicone Wire? Silicone wire is a wire where silicone (a type of rubber) is used as the insulator around the wire. Silicone wire is well known for its flexibility and heat resistance and is highly recommended within extreme temperature environments. These wires usually have a temperature resistance up to + 250°C.

Many people are unaware of how silicone wire can perform better than other types of wires in some circumstances. Especially with the relatively expensive cost, silicone wire has less buying frequencies among many other wires for general purposes. However, there are many performance abilities and benefits that come with this wire. Let’s take a look.

How Silicone Wire Performs
As we mentioned, silicone wire is insulated with silicone, which is a type of rubber. This rubber element makes the wire more flexible around rough and tough environments. This flexibility supported by the rubber property also enables the silicone wire to keep its shape/structure when influenced by high temperature or any other rough environmental conditions.

Also as mentioned, the silicon insulation has a higher melting point than many others. This gives the wire the ability to get much hotter than melting the insulator or catching on fire. This performance of better temperature handling is safe and reliable, especially to avoid dangerous explosions.

In fact, silicone wire is an ideal choice for using in high-temperature environments ranging from 103°F to 482°F.

However, to get the maximum performance related to high-temperature resistance and flexibility, you’ll have to choose the right wire. Usually, a thinner silicone wire has more heat resistance and flexibility compared to thicker ones. Thinner wires mean less-weight and so the flexible performance of the wire is high.

The only way a silicone wire can result in a disastrous output is if you choose the wrong wire, which can be too thin. When the wire is too thin, the PVC insulator melts quickly and the bare copper wires short, causing the battery to explode. Therefore make sure to use a thin wire but not too thin or thick.

Also to mention here, one downside of this wire is obviously the price which can be expensive, plus then its ability to attract static. Attracting static makes the wire have a tendency to attract dirt outside the cable. This makes silicone wires get dirtier more easily when compared to other wires.

Now that we know how silicone wire performs and the possible downsides it has, let’s get into the benefits of using this wire. It’s important to understand the benefits to the investment in this wire and how they’re worth the higher price tag.

Automotive wire is generally coated with either general purpose thermoplastic (also called GPT or PVC) or cross-link insulation, so named because the insulation material is extruded under heat and pressure, changing the molecular structure and allowing it to withstand higher temperatures. GPT insulation is more cost-efficient, while cross-link insulation is more durable and heat resistant.

As a rule, look at how the wire is being used. Applications that are likely to face extreme high temperatures like engine compartments should use cross-link wire; general in-the-cabin applications can use GPT/PVC-insulated wire.

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