Heat shrink tubing

Heat shrink tubing is a shrinkable sleeve that shrinks in diameter when heated. The product is often used for the assembly, protection or repair of cables, tubes or other objects. The protection is related to increasing the mechanical, electrical, thermal, chemical or environmental protection of the object. Heat shrink tubing is also suitable for marking (labelling) cables or other objects.

Why heat shrink sleeves from WKK?

Heat shrink sleeves are used for the following 4 reasons:

• The assembly of cables or other objects
• The protection of cables or other objects
• The repair of cables or other objects
• The marking of cables or other objects (via the color and/or in combination with text or a logo)

WKK supplies heat shrink sleeves for professional use. Depending on your specific application, WKK supplies heat shrink sleeves in various types and sizes. Whether you are looking for a heat shrink sleeve with adhesive or a transparent heat shrink sleeve: at WKK you can easily find the heat shrink sleeve that best suits your needs.

Protection of cables or other objects

Heat shrink tubing offers protection for cables or other objects in the following ways:

• Mechanical protection, such as improving the tensile strength, the elasticity, wear and tear resistance, dents and deformation (flexibility)
• Electrical protection: insulating the cable and the transition point from insulating to conducting
• Thermal protection, such as the operating temperature (heat resistance), flame retardant and self-extinguishing properties and extension of the product life
• Chemical protection, such as water absorption, resistance to liquids, acids, salts, bases, chlorides, etc.
• Environmental protection, such as water resistance (with adhesive), UV resistance, corrosion, etc.

The different versions and types of our heat shrink tubing offer different degrees/levels of protection with regards to the forms of protection mentioned above. For example, a heat shrink tubing with adhesive is waterproof, a variant without adhesive logically is not.

Heat shrink tubing models

The WKK range includes three models of heat shrink tubing: thin-wall, medium-wall and heavy-wall heat shrink tubing. Within these three models, WKK supplies heat shrink tubing that differs in shrink ratio, operating temperature, minimum full recovery temperature, material (flexibility), flame and UV resistance, etc.

Thin-wall heat shrink tubing: flexible and ideal for low voltage applications

Thin-wall heat shrink tubing are widely applicable (very) flexible heat shrink sleeves that are often used for the assembly and protection of cables. It is a popular product in the electrical engineering sector for low voltage applications.

Medium-wall and thick-wall heat shrink tubing

Medium-wall and thick-wall heat shrink tubing offer higher protection for cables and other objects than the thin-wall model. However, the flexibility is lower compared to thin-wall heat shrink tubing. Depending on your specific application, you choose thin-wall, medium-wall or thick-wall heat shrink sleeves.

Assortments (kits) and displays

Need a heat shrink tubing assortment? WKK supplies several practical assortment boxes with thin-wall heat shrink tubing. You can also opt for a display. These are useful products for you as a professional or, as a wholesaler, for your (potential) customers.

Heat shrink tubing properties

Below you will find an overview of the most important properties of heat shrink tubing. In addition to these properties, the inside diameter upon delivery, the inside diameter after complete shrinkage and the wall thickness after shrinkage are essential for the selection of the appropriate heat shrink sleeve.

• The basic material for heat shrink sleeves is the plastic polyolefin. For heat shrink tubing, the polyolefin is processed utilising ‘crosslinking’ to increase the required protective properties. Various quality enhancements are possible within polyolefin. Which variant is suitable for you depends on your specific application. For more extreme applications, WKK also supplies the material quality classes: cross-linked PVDF, crosslinked fluoroelastomer, modified tetrafluoroethylene and modified polyolefin.
• Degree of flexibility: flexible heat shrink tubing is useful for applications with a lot of curves. If you want a very high flexibility, it is best to choose thin-wall heat shrink tubing.
• Degree of heat resistance. WKK supplies heat shrink sleeves with an operating temperature of up to +260 degrees Celsius. This means you can also go to WKK for the most extreme applications.
• Flame retardant and self-extinguishing or not. A flame retardant and self-extinguishing heat shrink sleeve extinguishes automatically in 30 or 60 seconds depending on the type. This improves safety and reduces the risk of fire.
• Shrink ratio from 1.5:1 to 6:1. A higher shrink ratio is useful for applications where the cable or object has multiple layers (depths).
• Difference in color: you can order heat shrink sleeves in various colors. From black to red, transparent, yellow/green. Almost all black colored heat shrink tubing are UV resistant.
• Halogen free or not: this ensures that gas and smoke development is limited. It reduces risks and increases safety.
• A reduced shrink temperature. This is useful if your application (cable or other object) cannot withstand the standard minimum shrink temperature of the heat shrink sleeve.
• MIL-SPEC (United States Defense Standard). Heat shrink tubing which meet the MIL-SPEC standard comply with the associated regulations set by the US Department of Defense. These products are for applications in America in industries such as aerospace, shipbuilding, aircraft construction, railway construction, defense and automotive.
• With or without adhesive (double-wall). Ideal for applications in humid environments or underwater because of the good sealing and insulation properties.
  
  

Custom heat shrink sleeves: pre-cut length pieces and printing (logo/text)

Are you looking for customized heat shrink sleeves? WKK provides pre-cut length pieces and customized printing (logo/text). It is simple: choose a type, the desired length of the product and the number of pre-cut length pieces. You can also add a print, for example your own logo or text. This way you can customise the heat shrink sleeves completely according to your own preferences.

Do you have questions about customized heat shrink tubing? Then contact our advisers. We are happy to answer all your questions about customizing heat shrink tubing.

Brands: Hongshang and private label

WKK supplies heat shrink tubing from the quality brand Hongshang, but we can also supply these products in private label. All options meet high quality standards. A private label is offered for companies that want to market high-quality heat shrink tubing as their own brand.

Partner in heat shrinkable products

Which heat shrinkable products are suitable for you? The answer to this question depends on your specific application. Should the heat shrink tubing have certain protective properties? Or is it just used to mark cables? Or is the heat shrink tubing used in humid conditions and/or under water? These questions help you to make a solid choice.

We also supply heat shrinkable fibre optic splice protectors and heat shrinkable moulded parts. These accessories complete the purchase of your heat shrinkable products.

WKK has many years of experience in the supply of heat shrink sleeves for many applications. Our knowledge provides expertise in many sectors, from electrical engineering to automotive, maritime and shipbuilding sector. Do you have questions about heat shrink tubing? Or are you curious about which product is suitable for a specific application? Then contact our advisers. We are happy to advise you about the possibilities.