Poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC) is the most common plastic used to jacket aircraft cable. It offers a desirable balance of cost efficiency and weatherability, making it suitable for a wide range of applications and operating environments. One of its primary advantages is that its durometer is customizable to meet the needs of specific abrasion requirements. From firm to spongy and everything in between, we can tailor the hardness of this coating to your desired measurement. Take a moment to learn about our standard PVC durometer, and the characteristics of other hardnesses.
What is Durometer?
Durometer is an international standard of measurement for the hardness of rubber and plastic. It is measured on Shore scales, and it represents a material’s ability to withstand surface penetration. Scales include Shore 00, which covers extra soft to medium hard materials, Shore A, which covers extra soft to extra hard materials, and Shore D, which covers medium hard to extra hard materials. Each scale starts at 0 and extends to 100, and the material becomes harder as the number increases. The harder the material, the more abrasion resistant and less flexible it becomes. Most PVC coatings fall along Shore A, which eliminates the delicately soft durometers from Shore 00, and the impenetrably hard durometers from Shore D.
We have set the standard durometer of our PVC jacketing to 90A, which has a firmness that resembles a leather belt or a shopping cart wheel. While it maintains some flexibility, durability is its primary feature. If your application requires increased flexibility and reduced abrasion resistance, you may want a PVC coating with a smaller durometer and softer texture. If durability is of greater concern than flexibility, you may want a PVC coating with a higher durometer. Our product experts are always available to help you select the perfect cable coating.
To learn more about our poly-vinyl-chloride coated aircraft cable, visit https://www.loosco.com/products/coated-cable/ where you can download a copy of our Jacket Materials Brochure. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
