Bridge Cable Fails, DuPont™ Hytrel® to the Rescue

Because Hytrel® provides effective electrical insulation and toughness in thin layers, the replacement cables using Hytrel® are more than 40 percent smaller in diameter than the one that failed. “Smaller cable diameter means longer flex life at a given bend radius,” said Ted Beach, director of sales for Northwire. Hytrel® is ideal for cables that flex because its combination of high dielectric strength and toughness allows its use in thinner layers than many alternative materials.

The old cable, which used ethylene-propylene rubber for insulation of its 50 conductors (16 AWG), measured 1.86 inches (47 millimeters) in diameter. The diameter of the replacement cable using Hytrel® is about 40 percent smaller, just 1.1 inches (28 millimeters). Its conductors are each insulated with 0.010 inch (0.25 millimeter) of Hytrel®. Another advantage for Hytrel® is productivity and stability during extrusion of such thin insulation layers.

Northwire is also bringing the benefits of Hytrel® for insulation to manufacturers and end-users of robots, other industrial automation equipment and retractable coiled cable for various applications. The company recently obtained the first 90ºC and 105ºC UL recognitions for Hytrel® under the UL 758 standard. These are embodied in UL style 10912 AWM.

Based in Osceola, Wis., Northwire specializes in custom-designed cables for industrial, medical and a variety of specialized markets. For more information, call 1-800-468-1516 or visit http://www.northwire.com.

For more information about DuPont™ Hytrel®, please visit plastics.dupont.com on the web.

The DuPont Engineering Polymers business manufactures and sells Crastin® PBT and Rynite® PET thermoplastic polyester resins, Delrin® acetal resins, Hytrel® thermoplastic polyester elastomers, DuPont™ ETPV engineering thermoplastic vulcanizates, Minlon® mineral reinforced nylon resins, Thermx® PCT polycyclohexylene dimethyl terephthalate, Tynex® filaments, Vespel® parts and shapes, Zenite® LCP liquid crystal polymers, Zytel® nylon resins and Zytel® HTN high-performance polyamides. These products serve global markets in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, consumer, electrical, electronic, healthcare, industrial, sporting goods and many other diversified industries.

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