MDPC-X Heatshrink

MDPC-X heatshrinks: A class of its own for custom sleeved cables.

• General rule for MDPC-X heatshrinks: The higher the shrink ratio, the more versatile and easier to use a heatshrink is.
• The starting diameter of our high shrink ratio heatshrinks makes it extremely easy to get the heatshrink over the cable sleeving without any hassle. It also allows you to correct the position of the heatshrink after the shrinking process has been partially initiated.
• Our heatshrinks offer the thinnest possible walls in to relation to the corresponding shrink ratio.
• Highest quality base materials plus very thin walls make over-expanding of MDPC-X heatshrinks easily possible, without breaking the material too quickly (by applying this technique you can raise the original diameter even further).
• MDPC-X offers you a variety of heatshrink colors with a high shrink ratio. Standard industry 4:1 heatshrinks are typically only available in black (a medium to dark grey).
• Our high shrink ratio heatshrinks have no hot-glue on the inside, which makes installation clean and optically flawless in design oriented environments.
• Our high shrink ratio heatshrink tubing has no double-wall construction, which allows us to have these very thin walls.
• The surface of our heatshrink is very smooth and has a beautiful matte appearance, no matter which heatshrink color you get.
• No printing on the heatshrink guarantees a clean design.

Technical properties of MDPC-X heatshrink: No compromise.

• At ~95°C the heatshrink will start to shrink.
• The heatshrink tubing can be exposed 24/7 to temperatures of up to 160°C.
• Without melting or breaking effects, extreme temperatures of 240°C can be applied to the heatshrinks for a couple of hours.
• Very high melting-point of the heatshrink allows for a controlled melting of cable sleeving underneath the heatshrink tubing. MDPC-X cable sleeves begin to melt at more than 250°C. (see the quick guide to heatshrink-less sleeving below this list)
• Copper in combination with our heatshrinks will not result in corrosion effects.
• Water in contact with our heatshrink is not a problem because of the low ~0.25% water absorption property.
• 20KV per mm dielectric strength make our heatshrink tubing a high class protective solution.
• Oils, chemicals or cleaning agents have no structural effect on our heatshrink.

Heatshrink in combination with cable sleeving: Traditional and "heatshrink-less".

You need to apply heat to the heatshrink with a heat-gun, lighter or similar heat source, which can provide a temperature of at least 95°C on the surface of the heatshrink. For maximum shrinking and a quicker process you typically use much higher temperatures of about 200-300°C. Do not use a hair-dryer because the temperature is too low.

If you use a lighter, we recommend the following technique:

1. Move the heatshrink through the lower part of the flame, sideways into and out of the flame. (above or at the top of the flame could generate soot on the heatshrink)
2. Rotate the heatshrink so it heats up evenly on all sides.
3. Have a pause of 5 seconds after you have heated the heatshrink for 5 seconds. This avoids breaking and burning of the heatshrink tubing.
4. When the shrinking process is completed, the heatshrink will reach maximum holding strength when the tubing has cooled down to room temperature. Only cooled down heatshrinks can hold strong cable sleeving stretching forces.
5. If you ever need to soften the heatshrinks later on, just apply heat.

Using heatshrink to melt the cable sleeving underneath:

1. If you want to have full control when melting sleeving underneath heatshrink, we HIGHLY recommend using our clear / transparent heatshrinks.
2. To use the so called shrink-less / heatshrink-less method with cable sleeving, follow the previous steps from 1-2. Position the heatshrink end exactly over the end of the cable sleeve, so the flame can directly get onto the cable sleeve from the side (while it is inside the heatshrink).
3. Continue with breaks of only 1-2 seconds. Make sure to constantly (!) roll the heatshrink and cable sleeving in the flame. This avoids burning or braking of the heatshrink tubing.
4. If you are NOT using transparent heatshrink: The very thin walls of our heatshrinks make it easy to see the melting of the cable sleeving underneath the heatshrink. Once the visible bump in the heatshrink surface (which comes from the cutting-edge of the cable sleeve underneath the heatshrink) fades away, you know that the cable sleeve has been melted.
5. Let the heatshrink cool down and then remove it from the cable sleeving with a scalpel or scissor.

Over-expanding heatshrink: Increasing the original diameter.

To increase the original diameter of the heatshrink tubing to an even higher diameter, do the following:

1. Insert the tips of a straight long nosed plier into the heatshrink.
2. Open the tips of the plier / move them away from each other. This will stretch / over-expand the heatshrink from the inside.
3. Rotate the heatshrink to distribute the stretch over different parts of the surface. This will avoid braking of the heatshrink during the shrinking process.
4. While applying heat, be more careful then usually. Shorten the time of heat application and extend the time of your breaks.