What Does
Heat Shrink Cap Mean?
A heat shrink cap is used specifically with temperature-responsive tubing to seal, protect and insulate the ends of exposed cables and wires while providing a flexible, water-resistant barrier. A heat shrink cap effectively seals cable ends and provides reliable protection against the elements that cause corrosion.
A heat shrink cap may also be known as a heat shrink end cap.
Corrosionpedia Explains Heat Shrink Cap
Heat shrink technology was invented by the Raychem Corporation in 1962 and is mostly comprised of polyolefin, fluoropolymer and silicon.
Heat shrink caps are made from a modified polyolefin and are thermally stabilized making them highly resistant to moisture, fungus and weathering. They are primarily used to protect exposed wires and cables for anode caps due to their excellent electrical insulating properties.
The process for making heat-shrink caps is as follows:
- Choose the material based on desired properties.
- Compound with other additives (such as colorants) to optimize the cap for the desired application.
- Cross-link the materials via radiation. This creates a temperature-memory in the cap.
- Heat the cap just above the polymer's crystalline melting point via a vacuum chamber.