PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) is widely used in electrical cable construction for insulation, bedding and sheathing. It was the 1950s when PVC started to replace rubber insulated and sheathed cables in general household wiring due to its ease of processing. PVC is cost-effective and also has excellent ageing properties and typically exceeds a 25 to 30 year service life.
It is considered one of the most versatile common thermoplastics due to its properties and can be easily modified-although PVC is inherently difficult and rigid, it is easily modified with plasticizers, stabilizers, lubricants and various other ingredients and fillings Objects, aid processing and promotion of various attributes. When used as a thermoplastic, it is also easy to handle and recycle.
Cable with a PVC insulation or sheathing is flame retardant, which is an important consideration for electric cables in most applications.PVC can be made resistant to various chemicals, including oils, acids and alkalis, and is tough, durable and wear-resistant. Adding various additives can improve its temperature range, generally -40 ~ 105℃, and can also improve sunlight resistance, reduce smoke emissions and improve water resistance.
As an insulating material, cables usually need to choose between XLPE and PVC-choose between thermoplastic and thermoset materials. There are also cross-linked thermoset PVCs, usually using electron beam technology, but they are more expensive to use, so under certain circumstances, they are usually used for high-spec applications in the defense and automotive industries.The thermoset or cross-linked PVC has improved temperature resistance, is tougher, and has a better dielectric strength, which means that a thinner coating or insulation layer can be applied making the overall cable dimension smaller.