Demands of the industrial environment are ongoing, with
ever-changing trends. Cables that were able to sustain functional and
operational integrity a decade ago would not be adequate to survive in the environment
of a present day manufacturing site. Everywhere, from the renewable energy
industry and automotive assembly plants to the factories that manufacture small
office machines, and even in some commercial buildings, oil resistant cables
have become increasingly important.
Oils serve a dual-purpose in industrial applications, both
as a coolant and lubricant, depending upon the requirements mandated by the end
use application. Sustaining trouble-free cable operation under harsh chemical
and environmental conditions reduces costly manufacturing downtime and helps to
eliminate or minimize periodic maintenance and costly cable replacement. All of
the factors mentioned play a major role that is critical to a consistent,
smoothly run manufacturing operation, which in the end results in higher profit
margins.
Purpose & Application
Of Oil Resistant Cables
Why does oil cause such damage on certain types of
insulations and jackets and how does this occur? All compounds are not the
same. For example, certain types of PVC have a higher degree of flame
resistance, some have better oil resistance and some demonstrate improved
flexibility characteristics. PVC formulations vary greatly depending on the
desired properties and applications. These properties can be achieved by
adjusting the formulations of a particular PVC compound. The modification or
addition of flame retardants, stabilizers and fillers allow the compound to
exhibit these types of enhanced characteristics.
The specific application will determine if oil is used as a
lubricant and/or coolant. Acting as a lubricant, oil would be applied to a gear
system driven by motors to prevent premature wear down and insure smooth
operation. Acting as a coolant, oil is applied during the machine lathing
process to keep metal from becoming too hot. There are many factors involved
regarding how oil will attack wire and cable such as exposure, ambient
temperature, and also possible continued immersion. In general, increases in
the amount of exposure, the frequency and the ambient temperature, the faster
oil will start the deterioration process. In short, oil attacks the insulating
compound, where it will become virtually ineffective in its primary role as an
effective insulator. This action can create a possibly very hazardous situation
not only to human life, but also to the overall function of the industrial
machinery to which it is connected. This results in very expensive downtime,
costly repair, and in the worst-case scenario, entire replacement of the
machine.
Lapp has always been the pioneer for highly flexibleindustrial cables. Today, Lapp offers a wide range of highly flexible cables oil
resistant cables for control and power applications in industrial environments.
These cables have also been engineered and tested to be oil, coolant and
chemical resistant and withstand dry, damp and wet conditions and therefore
allowing you to save money on downtime and lost production.
When you need a cable that can route and bend to conform to
your machine without damage, ÖLFLEX® is the one brand you can trust.
Conclusion
Oil resistant cables have now become a critical performance
parameter when electrical contractors, engineers and installers specify cables
for end use application designs. The continued growing popularity of oil resistant
cables is due to changes in standard regulations and the increased performance
characteristics that are mandated by certain industries: renewable energy,
automotive assembly plants, and other production facilities. As time moves
forward superior oil resistant cables will become standard rather than the
exception, and the demand for this type of operating performance will only
continue to grow.
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