Fluoroplastics can be moulded into any shape or consistency that a project requires. While Adtech is known for producing specialist fluoropolymer tubing, we also produce many different fluoroplastic heat shrink materials for a wide array of industries.

Why use fluoroplastic heat shrink

Fluoroplastic heat shrink is a very effective way to cover and encapsulate devices to make them non-stick and electrically inert. As these materials can withstand high temperatures, chemicals, solvents and UV light, they are ideally suited for use in harsh environments, for example as temperature sensors, probe covers, battery pack assemblies, for encapsulating medical devices, creating automotive components and shatterproof lamps.

For the electronics industry, fluoropolymer heat shrinkable sleeves are ideal for insulating connections in hot environments such as toasters, kettles and soldering irons. Meanwhile in the medical industry, PTFE and FEP heat shrink sleeving is widely used by manufacturers of medical devices. It can be produced from FDA and USP Class VI compliant raw polymers and we also offer full traceability for materials supplied for all medical applications.

A major advantage of using fluoropolymer heat shrink wrap or sleeving for medical devices is that the materials are inert, non-toxic and bio-compatible. Being non-stick, they also offer low co-efficient friction, meaning that coated parts can easily slide inside other parts – perfect for intricate medical assemblies.

Although we do still produce PVDF Heat Shrink, the materials we prefer to use for heat shrink wrap and sleeving are more usually PTFE, FEP or PFA. Over the years, production methods for these fluoroplastics have become so advanced that these materials are considered far more reliable than inferior polymers such as polyolefin and PVDF, though the cost is almost identical.

Range of fluoroplastic heat shrink sleeving

PTFE, FEP and PFA heat shrinks are all similar, but each have slightly different qualities:

PTFE heat shrink sleeving

PTFE heat shrink can withstand extraordinarily low and high temperatures, from -200°C to 260°C, but remarkably, also remains intact at 300°C and is not damaged even by short bursts of exposure to up to 400°C, meaning that it can provide excellent performance in almost any heated environment.

FEP heat shrink sleeving

By contrast, FEP heat shrink also functions well from -200°C to 200°C but offers a lower shrink temperature of just 110°C, meaning that it can be safely shrunk over a vast array of materials that are not able to withstand high temperatures. It is therefore often used for cable jackets, non-stick rollers, sensor covers and probe covers, hose protection and electrical terminal insulation. What’s more, FEP heat shrink can be supplied with a closed end for encapsulation applications.

We can produce to order PTFE and FEP heat shrink sleeving in 14 colours, ready-cut in a variety of standard sizes, and bespoke sizes, with inside diameter measurement of 0.64mm up to 350mm and beyond.

PFA heat shrink sleeving

While also having a similarly low shrink temperature to FEP, PFA heat shrink is also unique in that it functions up to a temperature of 260°C with natural electrical resistance, a non-stick nature, total UV resistance. It is also transparent.

Heat shrink specialist products

But heat shrink doesn’t stop there! In addition to PTFE, FEP and PFA heat shrink, we also offer several other specialist materials, all with their own special qualities such as differing shrink ratios and temperature performance, which are similarly effective for other specialist applications.

• Geo-Shrink® heat shrink sleeves for rock core analysis - This can be supplied in 0.25mm and 0.5mm thickness.  We can also offer custom under expanded sizes cut to length, for specific testing applications.

• Dual-wall PTFE/FEP heat shrink sleeving

• Polyolefin heat shrink sleeving

• Non-stick FEP roll covers

• FEP heat shrink sleeving for shatterproof lamps in UV and White Light Applications.

Here at Adtech, we are specialists in delivering innovative fluoropolymer solutions for your technical applications. We are happy to advise you on the best material for your project, and exactly how much material you will need to make sure that your devices are adequately covered. 

Get in touch today to ask for advice or to discuss your requirements:

t: +44 (0) 1285 762000

e: sales@adtech.co.uk

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