Why is Polyethylene (PE) Considered The Best Type Of Cable Insulation?

Read more

--

There are hundreds of cable insulations on the market, including thermoplastic, thermoset, and fluoropolymer insulations. However, some of them are more versatile and popular than others. One of such insulations is Polyethylene (PE). Read this blog to learn what makes Polyethylene (PE) excellent and versatile insulation.

What is Polyethylene (PE) insulation?

Polyethylene is thermoplastic insulation characterized by a low dielectric constraint. Along with PVC insulation, it is one of the most popular thermoplastic insulations on the market.

The Benefits of The Polyethylene (PE) insulation

• PE has an excellent lightness vs. toughness ratio. Polyethylene is tough insulation that is very light at the same time. This makes it very versatile and differs it from many other insulations, as it is often hard to achieve both these factors simultaneously.
• PE has high dielectric strength and very low electric conductivity. Once again, these two characteristics signal the versatility of polyethylene insulation. Combined, these two factors are primary features of a good insulator that might be used in different circumstances.
• Polyethylene is a budget-friendly insulator. While PVC, another thermoplastic insulation, is perhaps the cheapest of the popular options on the market, for its properties, polyethylene is still affordable insulation, which makes it perfect for most electrical projects.
• Polyethylene has excellent resistance to chemicals. The Chemical and solvent resistance of PE insulation is excellent even if you compare PE to some premium insulators.
• PE is resistant to water and does not absorb it under any circumstances. Among thermoplastic insulation, PE has some of the best scores when it comes to water resistance, which makes it a great budget option for marine wire and cable.
• The insulation has good resistance to wear and tear, as well as impact. This factor makes PE insulation an amazing choice for industrial conditions.
• The flexibility of the material varies depending on your needs. You can choose more flexible or less flexible polyethylene insulation for your electrical project, thanks to the physical properties of polyethylene. PE insulation varies in density. The denser the insulation is, the less flexible it is.

One relative drawback of polyethylene insulation is that it does not have excellent resistance to flames. While it is best not to use it in highly inflammable conditions, a flame-retardant jacket may be a great improvement for cables with polyethylene insulation.

Nassau National Cable is a wire and cable marketplace where you can choose from thousands of different wires and cables with polyethylene insulation and other insulations. Our library includes aluminum conductor direct burial cables, THHN wire, UF cables, submersible pump cables, copper building wire, SOOW cables, and many others.

Solid and Foamed Polyethylene, PE Insulated Wire & Cable

What is Solid and Foamed Polyethylene / PE?

Polyethylene, also referred to as PE, is a form of thermoplastic insulation. PE is found in various forms.  It can be solid (common form) or foamed.  One of the electrical differences between solid and foam is the dielectric constant.  The dielectric constant of foamed PE is lower than solid PE. Solid PE is typically used as a wire insulation and not as a cable jacket. Due to the moisture resistance of PE it is typically used in a wet environment. Overall, PE insulation is stiff. The stiffness can vary based upon high density (HDPE) and low density (LDPE) forms.

For more information, please visit FR Polyethylene Cable Compounds China.

Common Types of PE Wire or Cable