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Heat Shrink Tubing Tips

Component Supply supplies Zeus’ high-performance heat shrink tubing in a variety of polymer extrusions. PTFE and FEP are part of our standard stock and PFA, ETFE, PEEK, and PTFE / FEP Dual-Shrink™ can be special ordered.

PTFE is an abbreviation for the chemical polytetrafluoroethylene. Some websites may call it Teflon, which is the trade name and essentially the same chemical.

When selecting the right shrink tubing for your application, you will have to factor in properties like the shrink ratio, expanded inside diameter, and wall thickness. The shrink ratio determines how much the tubing will contract when heated while the wall thickness is for protection, insulation, and mechanical strength. Additionally, make sure to consider the recovery temperature for compatibility with your heat gun or oven and base material.

Tips for successfully shrinking any type of shrink tubing:

  • Make sure the area you are working in is well-ventilated. Some materials can put off fumes during the heating process that may cause dizziness or nausea.
  • Make sure the material that is being covered by the shrink tubing can withstand the heat required to shrink the tubing. We offer both PTFE and FEP heat shrink tubing in various wall thicknesses and shrink rations to match your application.
  • The mandrel (material being covered by the shrink tubing) may react to heat. It is recommended, particularly for metal mandrels, that you preheat them.
  • You should allow for at least 20% recovery of the shrink tubing. Restricting the radial recovery can not only increase the chances of splitting but can cause a longitudinal change in the tubing.
  • Using ovens is the most reliable way to evenly apply heat and prevent overheating, which can cause cracking or brittleness. If a heat gun will be used, please refer to the instructions provided by the heat gun’s manufacturer.
Heat Shrink Recovery Temperatures
MaterialRecovery Temperature (Perfectly Controlled Environment)
PTFE654°F to 670°F (346°C to 354°C)
FEP (1″ or less)400°F to 420°F (204°C to 216°F)
FEP (1″ or greater)420°F to 440°F (216°C to 227°C)
PTFE / FEP650°F (343°C)
Heat Shrink Ratios
MaterialRatio
PTFE 2:1The expanded ID is two times larger than the recovered ID.
PTFE 4:1The expanded ID is four times larger than the recovered ID.
FEP 1.6:1The expanded ID is 1.6 times larger than the recovered ID.
FEP 1.3:1The expanded ID is 1.3 times larger than the recovered ID.


Component Supply is dedicated to the success of our researchers. If there is anything unclear or missing, call or email our team and we’ll investigate!

📞 (931) 761-4000 | ✉️ parts@componentsupplycompany.com

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