Jacketed cable, or coated cable as it is sometimes referred to, can serve a wide range of applications. This week on the HotWire, we are going to discuss the ways in which coated cable is used and some common questions asked when placing an order.
Loos and Company’s extrusion department is capable of coating cable from 1/32” to 1 and 3/8”. We can extrude a jacket on galvanized or stainless steel ropes in a variety of constructions including 1x7, 3x19, or 7x7—just to name a few. Whether you need a Nylon, Poly-Vinyl-Chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP), or Polyethylene (PE) coated cable, we have you covered (pun intended).
Materials
PE is the material most commonly used for electrical insulation. Although it’s one of the most affordable plastics, it also has limited abrasion resistance—which slightly limits its range of use.
PP offers better abrasion resistance while still being reasonably priced. PP is used primarily as mechanical cable. The one drawback of this material is its limited operating temperature range—it is not recommended for use in environments below 0°F.
PVC is the most commonly used plastic for mechanical cable coatings. PVC carries excellent weatherability and UV resistance and can operate in temperatures anywhere from 30°F (-1°C) to 180°F (82°C).
Nylon jacketing is perhaps the most popular option when it comes to extruding a coating on cable or wire rope. Nylon is known for its chemical and fatigue resistance and therefore is used on everything from our EXERFLEX PRO® fitness cable to MIL-DTL-83420 aircraft cable.
Colors
If you are looking for a cable that stands out, you may be interested to know that our coated cable comes in a variety of colors. We offer stock vinyl and nylon in natural, clear, black, red, orange, yellow, or REFLEXLITE® Reflective Cable. Bright colors can help give that extra bit of visibility when you need it most.
Placing an order
When placing an order with Loos and Company, we often find ourselves asking a few questions of most customers. For instance, if you were to order a 3/16” black Nylon jacketed cable we may ask any of these questions:
“Is that the inner or outer diameter?”
“Is that the size of the bare cable or cable after jacket has been extruded?”
“What is the construction of the cable you are looking for?”
These questions are important because they tell us what we need to know in terms of breaking strength and the size of the cable.
If you have any questions about our coated cable or would like to discuss your application, contact a product manager. You can also fill out a wire rope inquiry form below (be sure to fill out jacket size and info) and we will get back to you with a custom quote as quickly as possible.
