What are the current types of plastics used for forming and covering cables? What are their respective characteristics and applicability?

What are the current types of plastics used for forming and covering cables? What are their respective characteristics and applicability?

At present, the main types of plastics used for covering cables includepolyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP), etc.

PVC has relatively high voltage resistance and insulation resistance. It is flame-retardant, oil-resistant, resistant to corona discharge, resistant to chemical corrosion and has good water resistance. However, its dielectric constant and dielectric loss are relatively high. Therefore, it is mainly used as the insulating material for wires and cables below 1000V or as the sheath layer of cables and optical fibers.

PE cable material has the characteristics of high volume dielectric constant, good electrical performance after being subjected to electric field, low dielectric constant and dielectric loss, and small sensitivity to temperature and color. It is mainly used for the insulation layer of high-frequency cables and power cables.

PP has the characteristics of high surface hardness, good wear resistance, low susceptibility to flattening, high softening temperature and excellent insulation performance. It is mainly used in the production of high-temperature resistant cables, high-frequency cables, special cables, etc.