The jacket decides how a cable survives. These are the polymers our engineers select from — and how they compare on strength, temperature, flexibility and chemical resistance.
LCP is the building block of our patented STFOC. The outer layers are selected for buoyancy, abrasion, temperature or flexibility.
ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene)
An extremely durable fluoropolymer with excellent chemical resistance, clarity and weatherability. It withstands UV, radiation and aggressive chemicals, making it suitable for aerospace, industrial tubing and outdoor environments.
180 °C continuous
HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
Lightweight and durable with low moisture absorption and strong impact resistance. Commonly used for industrial tubing and protective jacketing.
Hytrel® (Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer)
Combines rubber-like flexibility with engineering plastic strength. Excellent fatigue resistance and ideal for dynamic parts like cable jackets and flexible mechanical components.
LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer)
Superior dimensional stability, low creep and high thermal resistance. Used in precision parts and micro-components, with excellent moisture barrier properties that support semi-hermetic packaging.
LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
Flexible, clear, lightweight polymer ideal for tubing, films and coatings requiring pliability and durability.
Nylon (Polyamide)
High mechanical strength, abrasion resistance and fatigue endurance. Widely used in industrial components needing long service life.
PFA (Perfluoroalkoxy Alkane)
Premium fluoropolymer with exceptional chemical resistance and high thermal stability. Ideal for harsh chemical processing, high-performance tubing and precision fluid handling.
240 °C continuous
Polypropylene (PP)
Lightweight, semi-rigid material with strong chemical resistance and fatigue performance. Used widely in fibers, molded components and industrial systems.
Polyurethane (PU)
Available in flexible and rigid forms. Great abrasion resistance, elasticity and impact absorption, used in coatings, cushioning and protective jacketing.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Cost-effective, flame-resistant thermoplastic with strong insulation properties. Common in cable jacketing, tubing and sheathing.
Santoprene™ (TPV)
Rubber-like elasticity with thermoplastic processing efficiency. Excellent for seals, gaskets and outdoor cable coatings due to strong weather and chemical resistance.
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)
Rubber-like flexibility with easy processing. Ideal for grips, seals, tubing and consumer or industrial applications.
TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizate)
Enhanced elasticity, compression-set resistance and durability. Great for sealing systems and dynamic mechanical components.
TPX™ (Polymethylpentene)
Transparent, lightweight and heat-resistant polymer with excellent clarity and chemical stability. Used for labware and specialty films.
Ultem™ (Polyetherimide – PEI)
High-performance thermoplastic with superb strength, flame resistance and stability. Used in aerospace, electronics and precision industrial applications, with unique properties as optical-fiber jacketing.
How the jacket polymers compare
Tensile strength, MPa — typical range per material. LCP highlighted in green.
Side by side
Comparison table
Typical values for guidance. Final performance depends on the full cable construction — ask our engineers for application data.
Material
Tensile strength
Max continuous use temp
Flexibility
Chemical resistance
Notes
HDPE
20–37 MPa
~100 °C
High
Excellent
Tough, impact-resistant
High-Temp Thermoplastics (PEEK, PEI, PPS, etc.)
70–200 MPa
200–300 °C
Variable
Excellent
High-performance engineering plastics
Hytrel (TPEE)
25–50 MPa
100–150 °C
Very High
Good
Exceptional fatigue resistance
LCP
100–240 MPa
240–300 °C
Low
Excellent
Dimensional precision; very stiff
LDPE
8–12 MPa
~80 °C
Very High
Good
Soft, flexible, easy to process
Nylon
60–90 MPa
120–150 °C
Medium
Moderate
Strong, abrasion-resistant
PFA
20–30 MPa
260 °C
Medium
Outstanding
Ultra-pure; high-temp fluoropolymer
Polypropylene
25–40 MPa
~100 °C
Medium
Excellent
Lightweight; fatigue-resistant
Polyurethane
25–50 MPa
~80–100 °C
Very High
Good
Highly abrasion-resistant
PVC
40–55 MPa
~60–80 °C
Low–Medium
Good
Flame-resistant; electrical insulator
Santoprene (TPV)
6–14 MPa
120–135 °C
Very High
Excellent
Rubber-like; weather-resistant
TPE
5–25 MPa
80–120 °C
Very High
Good
Soft-touch; elastomeric
TPV
8–20 MPa
120–140 °C
High
Excellent
Durable, elastic
TPX
30–40 MPa
170–200 °C
Medium
Good
Transparent, lightweight
Ultem (PEI)
100–170 MPa
170–200 °C
Low
Excellent
High heat + high strength
ETFE
35–45 MPa
~150–170 °C
Medium
Outstanding
UV, radiation & chemical resistant
Not sure which jacket fits?
Share your temperature range, chemical exposure, flex cycles and buoyancy target — we’ll recommend the right construction.