Posted 28 June 2008
Many cable specifications state insulation or sheathing compounds as thermoplastic or thermosetting but what does it mean?
A thermoplastic compound such as PVC or Polyethylene (PE) can be melted and reformed without its properties being altered.
They are widely used in cable manufacturing due to their easy, workable nature. Thermosetting materials set permanently once heated and cannot be reprocessed. Examples of these are Polyurethane (PUR) and Polyamide (PA).
These are generally much more expensive compounds, used for specific applications where the unique properties of the materials are required.
