Heat shrink tube
AssigneeZeus Co., Ltd.
InventorsZeth John Eberling, Tyler Austin Poole, Josh G. Fogle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides tubings including at least one amorphous polymer resin. The tubings can exhibit heat shrink capability and, optionally, translucency or transparency through a wall of the tubing. After heating to recover the tubings, they can advantageously release cleanly from any underlying materials with which they are in intimate contact. The disclosure further provides methods of making and using such tubings and various applications for such tubings.
Claims23
A heat shrink tubing for recovery over a polymer substrate, wherein the heat shrink tubing comprises at least one amorphous polymer resin,
- wherein the heat shrink tubing exhibits a recovery temperature and a Vicat softening temperature and the polymer substrate exhibits a melting point such that:
- a. a first delta (ΔTO) between the melting point of the polymer substrate and an onset point of the recovery temperature of the heat shrink tubing is a positive value;
- and
- b. a second delta (ΔVO) between the Vicat softening temperature of the heat shrink tubing and the onset point of the recovery temperature of the heat shrink tubing is a positive value.
A method of preparing a heat shrink tubing for recovery over a polymer substrate, comprising:
- selecting a heat shrink tubing material comprising at least one amorphous polymer resin that exhibits a recovery temperature and a Vicat softening temperature;
- and
- selecting a polymer substrate material that exhibits a melting point,
- wherein the recovery temperature, Vicat softening temperature, and melting point are such that:
- a. a first delta (ΔTO) between the melting point of the polymer substrate and an onset point of the recovery temperature of the heat shrink tubing is a positive value;
- and
- b. a second delta (ΔVO) between the Vicat softening temperature of the heat shrink tubing and the onset point of the recovery temperature of the heat shrink tubing is a positive value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.