Protective Sleeving Information

protective sleeving selection guide

Image credit: RS Components | Thermosleeve USA

Protective sleeving represents a diverse group of specialized, corrugated conduit products designed to organize cables, wires, or hoses.

Protective sleeving serves several purposes:

Types of Protective Sleeving

There are numerous types of protective sleeving which are differentiated by construction and application.

Type	Description	Image
Mesh/braid	Expandable sleeving typically braided from polymer yarn or wire; constricts around irregular shapes and allows for expansion.
Wrap around	Protective layer that is wrapped around wire or cable; can be mesh.
Shrink tubing	Expanded polymer tube that shrinks to seal against a wire or cable bundle. Common varieties include heat shrink and cold shrink tubing.
Spiral wrap	Flexible wrapping constructed in a spiral shape; can be installed and uninstalled without disconnecting wires or cables.
Wire loom	Flexible tape or tubing. Split wire loom sleeving (shown at right), which is open on one side, allows the entry of wires at any point. Because of its sealed nature, non-split wire loom sleeving offers slightly improved environmental protection than split types.

Image credit: Ebay | Cable Organizer | Kroy | Hebei Tianyue | Belmetric

Protective sleeving can be made of one or more materials, each of which features different strengths and weaknesses.

Aluminum has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity and high resistance to oxidation.
Brass features good strength, temperature resistance, and low magnetic permeability.
Copper is a ductile, malleable metal which is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.
Polymers represent a diverse group of materials, including fiberglass, polyester, nylon, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Polymer sleeving is typically flexible, versatile, and able to withstand high and low pressure conditions.
Rubber and synthetic rubber exhibit high abrasion, chemical, and fluid resistance.
Steels, including stainless steel, are chemical and corrosion resistant and can withstand relatively high pressures.

Protective sleeving for use with wire, cable, hose, or tubing may be manufactured according to various standards. Common examples include:

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