Comparative Properties of Insulating & Jacketing Compounds

PVC Low
Density
Poly-
ethylene
Cellular
Poly-ethylene
High
Density
Poly-
ethylene
Poly-propylene Cellular
Poly-propylene
Poly-urethane Nylon CPE
Abrasion Resistance F-G G F E F-G F-G O E E-O
Acid Resistance G-E G-E G-E E E E F P-F E
Alcohol Resistance G-E E E E E E P-G P E
Alkali Resistance G-E G-E G-E E E E F E E
Benzol, Toluol, Etc. (Aromatic Hydrocarbons) Resistance P-F P P P P-F P P-G G G-E
Degreaser Solvents (Halogenated Hydrocarbons) Resistance P-F G G G P P P-G G E
Electrical Properties F-G E E E E E P P E
Flame Resistance E P P P P P P P E
Gasoline, Kerosene, Etc. (Aliphatic Hydrocarbons) Resistance P G-E G G-E P-F P P-G G E
Heat Resistance G-E G G E E E G E E
Low Temperature Flexibility P-G E E E P P G G E
Nuclear Radiation Resistance F G-E G G-E F F G F-G O
Oil Resistance F G-E G G-E F F E E E
Oxidation Resistance E E E E E E E E E
Ozone Resistance E E E E E E E E E
Underground Burial P-G G N/A E N/A N/A G P E-O
Water Resistance F-G E E E E E P-G P-F O
Weather, Sun Resistance G-E E E E E E G E E
Nylon CPE Flam-
arrest
FEP ETFE PTFE Solef /
Kynar
(PVDF)
/ PVF
Halar
(E-CTFE)
Abrasion Resistance E E-O F-G E E O E E
Acid Resistance P-F E G E E E G-E E
Alcohol Resistance P E G E E E E E
Alkali Resistance E E G E E E E E
Benzol, Toluol, Etc. (Aromatic Hydrocarbons) Resistance G G-E P-F E E E G-E E
Degreaser Solvents (Halogenated Hydrocarbons) Resistance G E P-F E E E G E
Electrical Properties P E G E E E G-E E
Flame Resistance P E E O G E E E-O
Gasoline, Kerosene, Etc. (Aliphatic Hydrocarbons) Resistance G E P E E E E E
Heat Resistance E E G-E O E O O O
Low Temperature
Flexibility
G E P-G O E O O O
Nuclear Radiation Resistance F-G O F P-G E P E E
Oil Resistance E E F O E E-O E O
Oxidation Resistance E E E O E O O O
Ozone Resistance E E E E E O E E
Underground Burial P E-O P E E E E E
Water Resistance P-F O F E E E E E
Weather, Sun Resistance E E G O E O E-O O

P=Poor, F=Fair, G=Good, E=Excellent, O=Outstanding
These ratings are based on average performance of general purpose components. Any given property can usually be improved by the use of selective compounding.