Transparent heat shrink tubing
Transparent heat shrink tubing makes it possible to keep a cable visible and identifiable, while still protecting it thanks to the shielding properties of the tubing.
Types of transparent heat shrink tubing
The following ten types of heat shrink tubing from our range are available in a transparent version, in addition to the other colors in which these variants are offered:
Properties of transparent heat shrink tubing
Apart from transparency, there are no unique properties specific to transparent heat shrink tubing. When choosing a type or color of heat shrink tubing, several characteristics are important to consider: wall thickness, shrink ratio, and properties specific to that type of tubing.
Wall thickness
In general, we offer heat shrink tubing in three possible wall thicknesses:
Most heat shrink tubing types are thin-wall. These offer more flexibility but are less resistant to abrasion and other mechanical influences compared to thick-wall tubing.
All types of transparent heat shrink tubing are thin-wall, with a wall thickness ranging between 0.4 and 0.8 millimetres.
Shrink ratio
Different types of transparent heat shrink tubing can have different shrink ratios. The following shrink ratios are available depending on the type of transparent heat shrink tubing:
The shrink ratio indicates how the diameter of the tubing before shrinking compares to the diameter after shrinking. For example, if a heat shrink tube has a pre-shrink diameter of 12 millimetres, then with a shrink ratio of 2:1, the post-shrink diameter is 6 millimetres. With a 3:1 ratio, it becomes 4 millimetres; with 4:1, it's 3 millimetres; and with 1.5:1, it's 8 millimetres.
Specific properties
Different types of heat shrink tubing have different characteristics, and thus different applications. For instance, some types are more resistant to chemicals than others, some are flame-retardant or even self-extinguishing. Certain types are halogen-free, may or may not include adhesive, or are printable. Pay close attention to these properties when selecting the right type of tubing.
Applications of transparent heat shrink tubing
As mentioned in the introduction, transparent heat shrink tubing is often used to keep a cable visible while still protecting it. Another common application is to mark a cable and then shrink transparent tubing over the marking to keep it visible.
Personal advice
Wondering which type of transparent heat shrink tubing is best suited for your application? Our advisors are ready to help you make the right choice. Simply get in touch with them. You can also request samples, so you can test the tubing yourself before making a final decision. Contact our advisors directly.