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Move left to right to align the polymer chains

  • Material Properties
  • Material properties & performance

    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.

    Jacket & insulation polymers

    Sixteen materials, chosen per application

    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.