Commodity Plastics
XLPE Wire and Cable — Cross-linked Polyethylene for Wire and Cable
XLPE is produced by cross-linking polyethylene, which improves its thermal stability, mechanical strength, and resistance to deformation under load and at higher temperatures. It is a primary material for electrical cable insulation and jacketing.
XLPEVLDPESantoprene (for some grades)
Manufacturers
3
Grades
3
Applications
3
Equivalents
2
Physical Properties
- Density
- 0.915-0.935 g/cm³
- Water Absorption (24h)
- <0.1 %
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Shrinkage
- 1-3 %
Mechanical Properties
- Young's Modulus
- 0.2-0.5 GPa
- Tensile Strength
- 15-25 MPa
- Elongation at Break
- 200-500 %
- Impact Strength (Izod)
- No Break
Thermal Properties
- Glass Transition Temperature
- -120 °C
- Melting Point
- Non-meltable (degrades above 300°C)
- Continuous Service Temperature
- 90-120 °C
- Heat Deflection Temperature
- 60-80 °C
Electrical Properties
- Dielectric Constant
- 2.25-2.35
- Volume Resistivity
- >10¹⁵ Ω⋅cm
- Dielectric Strength
- 18-30 kV/mm
Chemical Resistance
- Acids
- Good resistance
- Bases
- Good resistance
- Solvents
- Good resistance in most solvents, swells in hot aromatic hydrocarbons
- UV Resistance
- Poor (requires stabilization)
Sustainability
- Recyclability
- Recyclable (difficult due to cross-linking)
- Recycling Code
- 2 (PE-HD)
- Carbon Footprint
- Moderate
Manufacturing compatibility
ExtrusionJacketing
Applications
Electrical insulation
Cable jacketing
Heat-shrink tubing
Available grades
XLPE 105°CXLPE 90°CXLPE K-Grade