PTFE 2:1 AWG and Fractional Heat Shrink

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Zeus fluoropolymer heat shrink provides the ideal method for the application of a tight, protective jacketing to items subjected to extremes of heat, corrosion, shock, moisture, or other severe environmental conditions. Heat shrink protection extends the life of the covered components and helps sustain their performance. PTFE’s low coefficient of friction and chemical resistance have made it the polymer of choice for many of these applications.

At Zeus, we are the largest extruder of polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE. This highly popular fluoropolymer has become the gold standard for polymer tubing because of its second-to-none characteristics such as lubricity, temperature endurance, and chemical resistance. As tubing or heat shrink, this polymer is highly embedded in applications ranging from medical devices, industrial, chemical, and analytical areas. Zeus PTFE heat shrink provides secure encapsulation to protect your critical components.

PTFE’s broad temperature tolerance of -328 °F (-200 °C) to 500 °F (260 °C) makes it one of the few plastics that can be utilized for high and low temperature applications. PTFE’s high dielectric strength makes PTFE heat shrink well-suited for encapsulation of wires and electrical devices. For outdoor use, PTFE heat shrink is virtually impervious to weather.

Zeus heat shrink tubing products are provided in their expanded state. With the brief application of heat, these materials mold themselves snugly around the most intricate and irregular shapes to form a completely sealed covering. Sources of heat and methods of heating vary. Please contact us or call 1-800-526-3842 and speak with a Zeus Technical Account Manager to assist you in selecting the best heat option for your application.

Shrink Ratios and Recovery

Heat shrink ratio refers to the final diameter of the heat shrinkable material after being allowed to shrink fully unrestrained compared to the original diameter of the pre-shrunk material. After heat shrinking is complete, the material is considered to be in its “recovered” or “recovery” state. Thus, final dimensions for heat shrink usually refer to recovered or fully shrunk dimensions.

As an example, for a heat shrinkable material with a 2:1 heat shrink ratio, the final diameter of the fully shrunk (recovered) material will be reduced to 1/2 of the pre-shrunk diameter. Or, put another way, the original diameter of the pre-shrunk material will be 2× the diameter of the fully shrunk (recovered) material; the ratio of their diameters, pre-shrunk:recovered, will be 2:1.

Note that heat shrink is applied over a material or component to encapsulate it; thus, in practical application, the heat shrink is restrained from being shrunk completely.

Heat shrink ratio is a fundamental consideration for every application based on the degree of non-uniformity of the items or components to be covered. The more irregular the shape, the greater the heat shrink ratio needed to cover the shape. For more uniform parts such as cylinders or wires, smaller heat shrink ratios are generally sufficient to achieve proper coverage. Consideration should also be given to tapered parts: While appearing generally uniform in shape, the degree of taper should be taken into account when selecting heat shrink and its shrink ratio.

Heat Shrinking Guidelines for PTFE Heat Shrink Tubing

  1. Always assure good ventilation in the immediate work area before beginning the heat shrink process. (Caution: Fumes can cause nausea and dizziness).
  2. PTFE heat shrink tubing requires approximately 650 °F ± 25 °F (340 °C ± 5 °C) to initiate shrinkage. While this is a liberally safe range, these temperatures are approximate. Actual shrink temperatures may vary based on dimensions and wall thickness of the tubing, methods of heat application, and other factors. Zeus is happy to provide samples to test in your application and help you determine your best material choice.
  3. The mandrel (part) to be covered by the heat shrink must be able to tolerate the range of the heat shrink temperature.
  4. Parts or mandrels may act as a heat sink which may cool the heat shrink prematurely or require more time to reach the necessary temperature. Therefore, Zeus recommends preheating larger diameter mandrels and other parts.
  5. Generally, heat shrink should be allowed to recover a minimum of 20%. You may experience some slight longitudinal change depending on the amount of recovery. Contact us if longitudinal change is a concern.
  6. Heating and cooling should be even on all sides for best results. Uneven heating or cooling tends to split the side of the heat shrink that is still in the “gel” state while the other side may be in the hard or crystalline state, particularly upon recovery.
  7. Ovens are the most reliable way to recover heat shrink products due to their ability to ensure even heating and reduce the risk of overheating the material (which can lead to brittleness and cracking).  If a heat gun is to be used, please contact Zeus for tips on proper heat application to achieve the most uniform recovery.

Zeus PTFE heat shrink tubing is available with of 2:1 and 4:1 shrink ratios and can be selected based on American Wire Gauge (AWG) or fractional sizes. This heat shrinkable material incorporates all of the same high standards and characteristics of PTFE. We also provide custom specifications and tolerances including our Sub-Lite-Wall™ sizes upon request.

  • APPLICATIONS

    Encapsulation – PTFE heat shrink provides protection from a range of environmental extremes for your critical components. This heat shrink can easily tolerate wide temperature ranges, exposure to chemicals, and long-term weather exposure. PTFE heat shrink can be used to cover such items as temperature probes, metal roll covers, wires and cables, electronics, sensors, to name but a few.

    Insulation – PTFE heat shrink’s dielectric properties make it a good choice for encapsulating and insulating electrical components including batteries (lithium and alkaline) and other electrical devices. PTFE heat shrink’s heat tolerance allows it to continue to perform at temperatures from the very cold to the very hot.

    Wire Harness – PTFE heat shrink’s excellent dielectric properties make is a good choice for covering wires and cables and can even support splicing. Once covered, PTFE heat shrink also serves as insulation, and its properties are retained across its wide working temperature span.

  • KEY PROPERTIES

    Biocompatible – PTFE has a proven history of use within medical devices. For more information on PTFE’s biocompatibility, contact us today.

    Broad Working Temperature – PTFE has an extended service temperature range of -328 °F (-200 °C) to 500 °F (260 °C) allowing this heat shrink to be used in cryogenic settings such as for temperature probes to very hot environments.

    Chemically Resistant – PTFE provides reliable protection from almost all common solvents, whether acids, bases, or hydrocarbons.

    Easy To Clean – Because of the highly lubricious nature of PTFE, this material possesses a highly non-stick surface making it easy to wipe clean.

    Excellent Dielectric Strength – PTFE heat shrink has exceptional dielectric strength and thus doubles as insulation when used with electrical components.

    Flame Resistant – The non-flammable nature of PTFE makes it a good choice for environments where there is high heat or the possibility of flame exposure. PTFE is UL 94 V-0 rated.

    Limiting Oxygen Index – PTFE heat shrink is highly disinclined to burn; this fluoropolymer tubing has a limiting oxygen index of >95.

    Low Coefficient of Friction – PTFE has the lowest coefficient of friction of any polymer making parts, cables, or wires covered with PTFE heat shrink easy to maneuver into confined spaces to be placed at their point of use.

    Low Extractables – The very low level of extractables for PTFE means that contaminants will not leach out of the heat shrink and into the parts it is covering.

    Mechanical Resistance – Once covered with PTFE heat shrink, the covered items have an increased mechanical resistance even under severe conditions; this is particularly beneficial for joined parts such as wire splices or other delicate connections.

    Sterilizable – PTFE heat shrink’s temperature tolerance and physical properties allow it to easily tolerate ETO and autoclave sterilization protocols.

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  • PTFE 2:1 Standard Wall Heat Shrink (AWG and Fractional)

    Capabilities and Sizing

    PTFE 2:1 STANDARD WALL (CLASS 2) AND THIN WALL (CLASS 3)

    Ordered as AWG Size No.

    Expanded inside diameter (ID) Min.

    Recovered Dimensions After Shrinkage

    ID Max.

    *Standard Wall Thickness Thin Wall Thickness

    Nominal Tolerance (±)

    Nominal Tolerance (±)

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    30*

    0.034

    0.864

    0.015

    0.381

    0.009

    0.229

    0.002

    0.051

    0.009

    0.229

    0.002

    0.051

    28*

    0.038

    0.965

    0.018

    0.457

    0.009

    0.229

    0.002

    0.051

    0.009

    0.229

    0.002

    0.051

    26*

    0.046

    1.168

    0.022

    0.559

    0.010

    0.254

    0.002

    0.051

    0.010

    0.254

    0.002

    0.051

    24

    0.050

    1.270

    0.027

    0.686

    0.012

    0.305

    0.002

    0.051

    0.010

    0.254

    0.002

    0.051

    22

    0.055

    1.397

    0.032

    0.813

    0.012

    0.305

    0.002

    0.051

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.051

    20

    0.060

    1.524

    0.039

    0.991

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    19

    0.065

    1.651

    0.043

    1.092

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    18

    0.076

    1.930

    0.049

    1.245

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    17

    0.085

    2.159

    0.054

    1.372

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    16

    0.093

    2.362

    0.061

    1.549

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    15

    0.110

    2.794

    0.067

    1.702

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    14

    0.120

    3.048

    0.072

    1.829

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    13

    0.140

    3.556

    0.080

    2.032

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    12

    0.150

    3.810

    0.089

    2.261

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    11

    0.170

    4.318

    0.101

    2.565

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    10

    0.191

    4.851

    0.112

    2.845

    0.016

    0.406

    0.003

    0.076

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    9

    0.205

    5.207

    0.124

    3.150

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.004

    0.102

    8

    0.240

    6.096

    0.141

    3.581

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.004

    0.102

    7

    0.270

    6.858

    0.158

    4.013

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.004

    0.102

    6

    0.302

    7.671

    0.178

    4.521

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.004

    0.102

    5

    0.320

    8.128

    0.198

    5.029

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.004

    0.102

    4

    0.370

    9.398

    0.224

    5.690

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.004

    0.102

    3

    0.390

    9.906

    0.249

    6.325

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.004

    0.102

    2

    0.430

    10.922

    0.278

    7.061

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.004

    0.102

    1

    0.450

    11.430

    0.311

    7.899

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.004

    0.102

    0

    0.470

    11.938

    0.347

    8.814

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.004

    0.102

    LIGHTWEIGHT WALL (CLASS 4)

    Recovered Dimensions After Shrinkage

    Ordered as AWG Size No.

    Expanded inside diameter (ID) Min.

    ID Max.

    Wall Thickness

    Nominal Tolerance (±)

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    30*

    0.034

    0.864

    0.015

    0.381

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    28*

    0.038

    0.965

    0.018

    0.457

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    26*

    0.046

    1.168

    0.022

    0.559

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    24

    0.050

    1.270

    0.025

    0.635

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    22

    0.055

    1.397

    0.031

    0.787

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    20

    0.060

    1.524

    0.038

    0.965

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    19

    0.065

    1.651

    0.043

    1.092

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    18

    0.076

    1.930

    0.046

    1.168

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    17

    0.085

    2.159

    0.054

    1.372

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    16

    0.093

    2.362

    0.057

    1.448

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    15

    0.110

    2.794

    0.063

    1.600

    0.006

    0.152

    0.002

    0.051

    14

    0.120

    3.048

    0.072

    1.829

    0.008

    0.203

    0.002

    0.051

    13

    0.140

    3.556

    0.080

    2.032

    0.008

    0.203

    0.002

    0.051

    12

    0.150

    3.810

    0.089

    2.261

    0.008

    0.203

    0.002

    0.051

    11

    0.170

    4.318

    0.099

    2.515

    0.008

    0.203

    0.002

    0.051

    10

    0.191

    4.851

    0.110

    2.794

    0.008

    0.203

    0.002

    0.051

    9

    0.205

    5.207

    0.122

    3.099

    0.008

    0.203

    0.002

    0.051

    8

    0.240

    6.096

    0.139

    3.531

    0.008

    0.203

    0.002

    0.051

    7

    0.270

    6.858

    0.154

    3.912

    0.008

    0.203

    0.002

    0.051

    6

    0.302

    7.671

    0.172

    4.369

    0.010

    0.254

    0.003

    0.076

    5

    0.320

    8.128

    0.192

    4.877

    0.010

    0.254

    0.003

    0.076

    4

    0.370

    9.398

    0.214

    5.436

    0.010

    0.254

    0.003

    0.076

    3

    0.390

    9.906

    0.241

    6.121

    0.010

    0.254

    0.003

    0.076

    2

    0.430

    10.922

    0.270

    6.858

    0.010

    0.254

    0.003

    0.076

    1

    0.450

    11.430

    0.301

    7.645

    0.010

    0.254

    0.003

    0.076

    0

    0.470

    11.938

    0.347

    8.814

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    STANDARD WALL (CLASS 2) AND THIN WALL (CLASS 3)

    Ordered as ID (In.)

    Expanded inside diameter (ID) Min.

    Recovered Dimensions After Shrinkage

    ID Max.

    Wall Thickness

    Wall Thickness

    Nominal Tolerance (±)

    Nominal Tolerance (±)

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    1/8

    0.215

    5.461

    0.130

    3.302

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.003

    0.076

    1/4

    0.410

    10.414

    0.260

    6.604

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.003

    0.076

    5/16

    0.470

    11.938

    0.329

    8.357

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    0.015

    0.381

    0.003

    0.076

    3/8

    0.560

    14.224

    0.399

    10.135

    0.025

    0.635

    0.006

    0.152

    0.015

    0.381

    0.003

    0.076

    7/16

    0.655

    16.637

    0.462

    11.735

    0.025

    0.635

    0.006

    0.152

    0.018

    0.457

    0.004

    0.102

    1/2

    0.750

    19.050

    0.524

    13.310

    0.025

    0.635

    0.006

    0.152

    0.018

    0.457

    0.004

    0.102

    5/8

    0.930

    23.622

    0.655

    16.637

    0.030

    0.762

    0.006

    0.152

    0.020

    0.508

    0.004

    0.102

    3/4

    1.125

    28.575

    0.786

    19.964

    0.035

    0.889

    0.008

    0.203

    0.025

    0.635

    0.005

    0.127

    7/8

    1.310

    33.274

    0.911

    23.139

    0.035

    0.889

    0.008

    0.203

    0.030

    0.762

    0.006

    0.152

    1

    1.500

    38.100

    1.036

    26.314

    0.035

    0.889

    0.008

    0.203

    0.030

    0.762

    0.006

    0.152

    INDUSTRIAL WALL (CLASS 1) AND LIGHTWEIGHT WALL (CLASS 4)

    Ordered as ID (In.)

    Expanded inside diameter (ID) Min.

    Recovered Dimensions After Shrinkage

    Expanded inside diameter (ID) Min.

    Recovered Dimensions After
    Shrinkage

    ID Max.

    Wall Thickness

    ID Max.

    Wall Thickness

    Nominal Tolerance (±)

    Nominal Tolerance (±)

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    in.

    mm

    1/8

    0.166

    4.216

    0.130

    3.302

    0.030

    0.762

    0.005

    0.13

    0.215

    5.461

    0.130

    3.302

    0.008

    0.203

    0.002

    0.051

    3/16

    0.250

    6.350

    0.193

    4.902

    0.030

    0.762

    0.005

    0.13

    1/4

    0.333

    8.458

    0.257

    6.528

    0.030

    0.762

    0.005

    0.13

    0.410

    10.414

    0.260

    6.604

    0.010

    0.254

    0.003

    0.076

    5/16

    0.415

    10.541

    0.320

    8.128

    0.030

    0.762

    0.005

    0.13

    0.470

    11.938

    0.329

    8.357

    0.012

    0.305

    0.003

    0.076

    3/8

    0.489

    12.421

    0.383

    9.728

    0.030

    0.762

    0.005

    0.13

    7/16

    0.580

    14.732

    0.448

    11.379

    0.030

    0.762

    0.005

    0.15

    1/2

    0.666

    16.916

    0.510

    12.954

    0.030

    0.762

    0.006

    0.15

    9/16

    0.748

    18.999

    0.572

    14.529

    0.030

    0.762

    0.006

    0.15

    5/8

    0.830

    21.082

    0.637

    16.180

    0.030

    0.762

    0.006

    0.15

    11/16

    0.915

    23.241

    0.700

    17.780

    0.032

    0.813

    0.006

    0.15

    3/4

    1.000

    25.400

    0.764

    19.406

    0.040

    1.016

    0.007

    0.18

    7/8

    1.170

    29.718

    0.891

    22.631

    0.045

    1.143

    0.007

    0.18

    1

    1.330

    33.782

    1.020

    25.908

    0.050

    1.27

    0.008

    0.20

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