Industrial Cable Selection by Jacket type: PVC vs. TPE vs. PUR
Selecting the right cable jacket material is a critical engineering decision in industrial automation. In the US market, three primary materials dominate: PVC, TPE, and PUR. Each offers distinct advantages depending on the mechanical stress, environmental exposure, and budget of your application.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
PVC is the most widely used general-purpose material in the USA, particularly for fixed installations.
Intended Use: Stationary applications or areas with low mechanical stress.
Application examples:
Control cabinets internal and external wiring such as Tray Cables.
Conveyor systems in clean environments.
Packaging machinery.
Key Traits: High resistance to moisture and chemicals (like acids/alkalis) and generally the most cost-effective option. However, it becomes brittle at very low temperatures and has limited flexibility. It meets the FT4 requirement (self-extinguishing in the event of fire) and therefore is the most used cable jacket for type TC approved rated tray and VFD cables.
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)
TPE is often referred to as the "heavy-duty" choice for the North American market, known for its extreme resilience. In the US market these are often vinyl based. A good example is the Teknor-Apex-Flexalloy© line of Thermoplastics where in Europe we will find more Santoprene© type TPE’s that are different in burning behavior.
Intended Use: High-flex applications, particularly those requiring resistance to extreme temperatures or constant movement.
Applications:
Outdoor power equipment.
Cold storage facilities.
High-speed cable tracks (C-tracks).
Key Traits: Excellent UV resistance and low-temperature flexibility (often down to -40°C or lower). It is more resistant to corkscrewing and abrasion in continuous motion applications. The Vinyl based types can often meet the FT4 requirements that are needed to designed a cable with tray ratings or for use on VFD.
PUR (Polyurethane)
PUR is the "muscle" of cable jackets, specifically engineered for the harshest mechanical environments.
Intended Use: Demanding robotic and machine tool environments where abrasion and oil resistance are non-negotiable.
Applications:
Robotic arms and multi-axis torsion applications.
Motion control and manufacturing lines.
Metal cutting and machining (where exposure to coolants and cutting oils is high).
Key Traits: Halogen-free and flame-retardant. It has incredible durability allowing it to return to its original shape after being twisted or stretched. It is also the most resistant to mechanical tearing and abrasion.
Pro Tip:
If you have failing cable jackets final in machine tool applications the cause is often the lack of oil resistance or the material does not hold up to the abrasion and mechanical stresses in dynamic applications such as servo-controlled motion applications.
Cable manufacturers use UL standards to mark their oil resistance, and these are based on mineral oil. Your cutting oil may be synthetic, or vegetable oil based and may be way more aggressive than a mineral based test oil per IRM 902 standard!
Oil Res I: The cable is immersed in IRM 902 for 96 hours (4 days) at 100°C.
Oil Res II: The cable is immersed in IRM 902 for 60 days at 75°C
Therefore we recommend always check with your supplier to confirm compliance with your specific application.
