What is the difference between PVC sheath compound and insulation compound?
Sheath compounds focus on protection, appearance and flexibility, while insulation compounds focus on electrical performance and insulation stability.
PVC sheath compound and insulation compound are both used in wire and cable production, but their design targets are different.
Insulation compound wraps the conductor and focuses on electrical insulation, heat aging and stable extrusion. Sheath compound protects the outside of the cable and focuses on appearance, flexibility, abrasion resistance and service environment.
They should not be casually interchanged when the finished cable needs standard testing or long-term reliability.
If one compound is expected to cover multiple uses, the structure and target tests should be discussed with the factory and verified by trial production.
Recommended inquiry details
- Insulation layer or outer sheath
- Cable structure and service environment
- Electrical, mechanical and flame requirements
- Single-use or multi-use expectation
- Finished cable test standard