What are the Types of Jacket Material for Portable Cord?

Portable CordagePortable cord comes in a variety of materials to meet different use applications. Thermoplastic PVC vs Thermoplastic Elastomer vs Thermoset Rubber? Which one is the best? When picking which portable cord will be best for you, you need to first consider your application and environment that it will be used in and then understand the differences between the cordage material. We’ll dig into each material to explain their features, benefits, and typical applications and environments.

Thermoplastic PVC Cordage

The Thermoplastic (plastic) material softens when heated and becomes firm upon cooling. Thermoplastic is not as durable or flexible as Thermoset material, but it is much lighter in weight and offers excellent low-temperature resistance.

Designations for thermoplastic cordage: ST, STO, STOW, STOOW, STW, SJT, SJTO, SJTW, SJTOW, SVT, SPT

Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) Cordage

Thermoplastic Elastomer, commonly called TPE, is a combination of both plastic and rubber and resists water, oil, chemicals, and acid. TPE is durable and can handle extreme temperatures in weather and harsh environments. It may not stand up to extreme heat and oil, and when exposed to these elements, the cord may melt.

TPE portable cord is most often used for light-duty use on construction sites. It’s best used where there is minimal exposure to chemicals and oils.

Designation for TPE cordage: SEOW, SEOOW, SJEW, SJEO, SJEOW, SJEOOW

Thermoset Rubber Cordage

Thermoset cords have a heavy-duty grade or specification-grade rubber jacket. The Thermoset (rubber) material has been vulcanized by heat and will not soften or distort from its formed shape when exposed to excessive heat or open flame. This enables the cord to maintain flexibility in either high or low temperatures and resists cracking. Not only does rubber exhibit excellent heat resistant characteristics, but it also offers other advantages as well, such as flexibility, durability, and resistance to tears, abrasion, melt, oil, water, chemicals, and impact. These properties make thermoset a much more durable compound than Thermoplastic.

Typical applications for thermoset rubber cord include mining and submersible pumps, control circuits, motors and associated machinery, temporary and portable power, construction equipment, portable tools and equipment, and portable applications.

Designations for thermoset cord are: SO, SOW, SOOW, SJO, SJOW, SJOOW, SVO

In summary, when choosing between Thermoplastic PVC, Thermoplastic Elastomer, or Thermoset Rubber portable cord, it all comes down to your application and the environment the cord will be in. Knowing this will then help you decide what level of material you need. Finding the correct portable cord will help you reduce downtime, costs, and risks associated with picking out the wrong cord.

Listed below is a guide that summarizes the key performance differences among the various portable cord materials.

Properties Thermoplastic PVC Thermoplastic Elastomer Thermoset Rubber Benefits
MSHA Approval  X X  X  Thermoset rubber will not deform after exposure to open flame
UL Listing (Indoor & Outdoor) and CSA   X X  X  Only rubber compounds can be used on SOOW products
Sunlight Resistance   X X  X  All three materials are formulated to have UV stability 
Water Resistance   X X  X  All three products are designed to meet UL and CSA water resistance requirements for outdoor cords 
Tear Resistance       X Thermoset rubber jackets have better tear resistance than thermoplastic jackets 
Electrical Resistance       X Thermoset rubber insulation compounds have lower dielectric constants, providing greater dielectric strength 
Wear Resistance       X Field experience has proven thermoset rubber cords to be the most durable products on the market
Industrial Abrasion Resistance       X Thermoset rubber products are preferred in industrial applications
Flexibility at Low Temperatures       X Thermoset rubber will stay more flexible while approaching low temperatures 
Flexibility at Room Temperature     X  X Thermoset rubber and thermoplastic elastomer are more flexible at room temperature than PVC
High Temperature Performance       X Thermoset rubber is heat-cured, so it will not melt at high temperatures 
Hot Oil Resistance       X Thermoset rubber will maintain mechanical integrity in high temperature oil 
GenClean Jacketing      X Permits organic remnants to be more easily removed from a rubber jacket in a wash cycle, which reduces the environmental conditions conducive to microbial growth 

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