Heat shrink tubing is used for a wide range of domestic, commercial and industrial applications.
The tubing is affordable and easy to install. It also offers better protection and durability compared with similar solutions like electrical tape.
Different types of heat shrink are suited to different applications. The heat shrink tubing that’s best suited for use in automobiles is different from the tubing used in telecommunications which, in turn, is different from tubing used for military applications.
Whether you are insulating cables for use in extreme conditions, grouping wires together to save space or labelling cables for easier identification – there is a heat shrink tube to meet every task.
This guide will help you compare all the heat shrink tubing available on Hilltop Products’ online store.
It includes information on each tubes’ properties and certifications to help you make an informed decision about what product to use for your application.
UNDERSTANDING THE SPECIFICATIONS
There are several key properties that should be used to compare heat shrink products.
Certifications
If the tubing is to be used in a specialist industry, for example in military applications, then the most important information you should look for in a product’s specification is the specialist certifications that the product meets. These indicate industry-specific quality standards that the product meets.
Other certifications, such as the UL certification, signal that a product meets a more general set of quality and safety standards.
Operating Temperature Range
The safe operating temperature range is another important part of the specification. It indicates what range of temperatures the tubing can be exposed to without failing.
Some heat shrink products are made to withstand higher temperatures and should be used for high-temperature applications.
Shrink Ratio
You will also need to understand the shrink ratio of your desired heat shrink tubing. Heat shrink tubing with a 2:1 shrink ratio will shrink to half its original size. Tubing with a 3:1 ratio will shrink to a third of its size and so on up to a 6:1 ratio.
For more information on shrink ratios, read the heat shrink measurements section below.
Heat Shrink Tubing Measurements
You need to be aware of the measurements of the heat shrink tubing you need for your purposes. Different types of heat shrink tubing come in different shapes and sizes. When ordering a product, the most crucial measurements are the expanded inside diameter (I.D.) and the recovered I.D.
The expanded I.D. is the diameter of the inside of the tubing before heat is applied. When selecting heat shrink tubing, you need to make sure that the expanded diameter is wide enough to fit over the substrate, as well as any components or connectors that the tubing will need to pass over.
The recovered I.D. is the diameter of the inside of the tubing is the diameter of the inside of the tubing after heat has been applied. You need to make sure that this measurement is sufficient to fit snugly over the thinnest part of the area where you want heat shrink tubing applied.
Using the recovered I.D. as a measurement will be more accurate than calculating your desired diameter using the shrink ratio.
The longitudinal shrinkage of heat shrink is also important. Heat shrink tubing will only contract slightly lengthways, but the shrinkage could be important to your purposes.
You can find information about longitudinal shrinkage and other measurements in the downloadable specification sheets for each type of heat shrink product.
Heat Shrink Comparison
If you have any further questions or would like to request a sample of any of our products, please speak to our knowledgeable accounts team. Call: 01942 723 101.
HSP1
A general-purpose heat shrink product with fair to moderate resistance to common fluids, solvents and electric fields.
HSP1 heat shrink tubing is suitable for a range of applications including electrical insulation, strain relief, cable identification, application on electrical components and cable bundling and organising.
- Approvals: UL 224, CSA 400-U-9
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: Polyolefin
- Operating temperature range: -55°C to + 125°C
Jumbo Heat Shrink (HSP1)
A larger version of HSP1 general purpose heat shrink tubing, jumbo tubing has a wider diameter and is suitable for larger scale applications.
Choose from an expanded I.D. (inside diameter) of 150mm, 180mm or 230mm and use these products on larger scale products.
- Approvals: UL 224, CSA 400-U-9
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: Polyolefin
- Operating temperature range: -55°C to + 125°C
HSP2
Premium grade heat shrink polyolefin with a strong balance of properties including UV resistance/stability.
HSP2 has a strong blend of physical, chemical and electrical properties making it suitable for a wide variety of military, industrial and other applications.
- Approvals: UL 224 125, MIL-1-23053/5 Class 1&2, DEF STAMD 59-97 Type 2, VG 95343 Part 5 Type A&B
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: Polyolefin
- Operating temperature range: -55°C to +135°C
HSP3
A premium heat shrink material which offers outstanding overall resistance and balance of properties, making it suitable for military and industrial purposes.
HSP3 has a 3:1 shrink ratio, making it easy to apply to a larger range of substrates.
- Approvals: UL 224, CSA 400-U-9, Military MIL-1-23053
- Shrink ratio: 3:1
- Material: Polyolefin
- Operating temperature range: -55°C to 135°C
HSP3F Flat Printable Flame Retardant Heat Shrink Tubing
Flat, flame retardant heat shrink tubing, ready to use in a thermal transfer printer. The material provides an excellent print quality.
HSP3F is useful for cable identification in different environments. The material is flame retardant in line with UL specifications and is ideal for use in electrical panels, in shipyard applications and cable harness manufacturing.
- Approvals: UL 224, CSA C 22.22
- Shrink ratio: 3:1
- Material: Polyolefin
- Operating temperature: -55°C to + 135°C
HLAT
HLAT is thin wall PVC heat shrink tubing. This semi-rigid material provides good insulation for battery packs.
Thin wall makes this material suitable for battery casings. Hilltop Products offers an in-house printing, cutting and perforation service makes it suitable for large-scale identification projects.
- Approvals: UL 224 VW1, BS EN 60695-11-10
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: PVC
- Operating temperature range: -40°C to +105°C
ZH201B FLAT PRINTABLE HEAT SHRINK TUBING
Flat, zero-halogen heat shrink tubing, ZH201B is ready to use in a thermal transfer printer. The material provides excellent print quality.
Useful for cable identification in different environments. The zero-halogen material means the material is suitable for aerospace, railway and other sensitive environments. Compliant with Boeing Specification Standards and railway specifications.
- Approvals: Boeing Specification Standard BSS 7239, Railway normative CEN/TS 45545-2 and UNI CEI 11170-3
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: Polyolefin
- Operating temperature: -30°C to +105°C
- Approvals: Boeing Specification Standard BSS 7239, Railway normative CEN/TS 45545-2 and UNI CEI 11170-3
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: Polyolefin
- Operating temperature: -30°C to +105°C
ZH201B Flat Printable Heat Shrink Tubing
Flat, zero-halogen heat shrink tubing, ZH201B is ready to use in a thermal transfer printer. The material provides excellent print quality.
Useful for cable identification in different environments. The zero-halogen material means the material is suitable for aerospace, railway and other sensitive environments. Compliant with Boeing Specification Standards and railway specifications.
HZ-100
Low fire hazard, zero halogen heat shrink tubing with low smoke emission.
This thin wall heat shrink material meets the flammability requirements of UL 224.
- Approvals: UL 224, ASTM D 635-HB
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Operating temperature range: -30°C to 105°C
HPV
Flame retardant PVC heat shrink tubing offers good performance at a low cost.
The cost-effective material is great for a variety of applications including installation and identification of wire and cables and insulation.
- Approval: UL-224 VW-1, CSA OFT
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: PVC
- Operating temperature range: -30°C to 105°C
HPTF
Hilltop’s PTFE high temperature covering and insulation material with a milk-white translucence.
HPTF can be used over a wide range of temperatures and has excellent chemical resistance. It has several military and medical applications alongside many others.
- Approvals: Agency, AMS 3584 and 3585, Military
- Shrink ratio: 2:1 and 4:1
- Material: PTFE
- Operating temperature range: -70°C to 260°C
HKY
High temperature and fluid resistant, Kynar heat shrink tubing is semi-rigid and extra tough.
It has dozens of approvals and is suitable for several military and aerospace applications.
- Approvals: UL 224, VW-1 150°C, CSA SAE AMS-DTL-23053/8, VG 95343 Part 5 Type F, VDE 0341/Pt 9005, BS 3G 198 Part 4, MIL-1-23053/8, Def Stan 59-97 Type 3
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: Polyolefin
- Operating temperature range: -55°C to +175°C
HSLT
Highly flexible, low shrink temperature heat shrink tubing that’s easy to install.
HLST is not flame retardant but meets the automotive flame propagation standard MVSS 302.
- Approvals: MVSS 302, ASTM D2671
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: Polyolefin
- Operating temperature range: -40°C to 125°C
Versafit
Versafit is a highly flame-retardant heat shrink tubing used widely in commercial and military applications.
The tubing is manufactured from specially formulated cross-linked polyolefin to give the material high flame retardance, excellent flexibility and a low shrink temperature.
- Approvals: UL E35586 VW-1, CSA LR31929 VW-1, AMS-DTL-23053/5
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: Polyolefin
- Operating temperature range: -75°C to 150°C
RT-375
RT-375 is a premium thin wall heat shrink tubing with high flame-resistant properties and excellent clarity.
The flexible tubing is manufactured from a modified fluoropolymer with high toughness, chemical resistance and temperature performance.
- Approvals: UL E85381 VW-1, CSA LR31929 VW-1 Military AMS-DTL-23053/18 Class 2
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: Fluoropolymer
- Operating temperature range: -55°C to 150°C
Viton-HT
Viton-HT heat shrink tubing has good chemical and temperature resistance.
It is the equivalent of VITO-E and RW-200-E heat shrink tubing. Manufactured from a cross-linked fluoroelastomer material, Viton-HT is resistant to many fuels, lubricants, acids and solvents at different temperatures.
- Approvals: Military, Def Stan 59-97 Issue 3 Type 4A, VG95343 Part 5 Type D
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: Engineered polymer
- Operating temperature range: -55°C to +200°C
Download Full Specification / NA
PET-ZH
PET zero halogen tubing is an extremely thin zero halogen film tubing that is ideal for printing and provides protection up to 125°C.
The film tubing is widely used in electronic components such as on aluminium electrolytic capacitors and batteries. The material can also be used in chemical, mechanical and agricultural applications.
Approvals: UL 224 VW-1
Shrink ratio: 2:1
Material: PET
Operating temperature range: -40°C to +125°C
DSG Deray KY 175
KY 175 (0375) 9.5/4.8 thin wall Kynar heat shrink is a thin wall (0.30mm) clear heat shrink tubing.
The semi-rigid transparent material is perfect for electronic, automotive and military applications when protection is required and operators need to inspect parts.
- Approvals: UL 224 VW-1, CSA C22.2 No. 198.1, SAE- AMS- DTL- 23053/8, DEF STAN 59-97 Issue 3 Type 3a, AMS 3632
- Shrink ratio: 2:1
- Material: PVDF/polyvinylidene Fluoride
- Operating temperature range: -55°C to 175°C
FB-SRFR
FB-SRFR is a silicone rubber heat shrink tubing that is a direct alternative to Tyco/Raychem SRFR. The silicone tubing is flexible at extreme temperatures, has excellent physical and electrical properties and can resist heat shocks.
It is used widely in the medical sector because of its impressive properties in sterile conditions. The material can also be used for thyristor insulation, fibre optic bundle sheathing and heating element insulation.
- Approvals: UL E85381 VW-1, RT-1142
- Shrink ratio: 7:1
- Material: Silicone based
- Operating temperature range: -50°C to 200°C
Hilltop Products Are Heat Shrink Experts
At Hilltop Products, we source and manufacture a huge range of heat shrink products, all available for sale on our website. We keep large amounts of stock, so it is ready to ship when our customers need it.
Our sales team are knowledgeable about all the products and can offer advice on what products match your requirements.
We also offer a range of value-added services, including a tube cutting service to meet your desired specification (available on certain products) and customisable heat shrink printing to aid with cable identification (also available on certain products).
If you have any questions or would like to request samples of any of our products, please contact a member of the account management team. Call: 01942 723 101.
