What is the Purpose of a Cable Jacket?

Cables are the medium through which data and information are transferred. It consists of wires transmitting signals from one place to another. Cable Jackets act as a protective layer of the cable. It is the outermost covering surrounding the cables and wires in an assembly, protecting them from physical impacts and chemical deterioration. It acts as the first line of mechanical defense along with moisture, flame, and chemical protection helps in protecting the insulation and conductor core of the cable. Without these defenses, the cable would be prone to heat, oxidation, and weather-related damage.

• Protection from environmental Damage: As the inner part of the cables is made up of conductors, insulators, and auxiliary elements. Cable Jackets provide protection to cables from environmental damage like weather, water, or climate. Another reason for the protection is to prevent it from pinching, splitting, cutting, or breaking the cable.
• Surface Texture: Some cables feel difficult to touch, and their installation is also much more difficult. The extra layer (protection layer) in the cable jackets provides surface texture to the cables, which is helpful in handling and installation.
• Resistance: Cable Jackets provide chemical and flame resistance due to which the availability of Life expectancy during exposure to chemicals along with the safety and flame spread has been increased.
• Flexibility towards Temperature: Cable Jackets provide sustainability for winter climates (Low-Temperature-Flexibility). It also determines peak operating temperature and contributes to capacity rating(High-Temperature-Flexibility).

These are mainly of two types- Thermoplastic and Thermoset.

1. Thermoplastic: Some most popular cable jackets are: 

• Polyvinyl Chloride(PVC): PVC cables are resistant to oxidation, flame, water, acid, alcohol, and weather which makes them one of the most useful cable jackets rather than the fact that it does not exhibit a wide range of thermal characteristics.
• Polyurethane: Polyurethane cable jackets have excellent resistance to oxidation, heat, weather, and acid, and when these properties are specially formulated, have excellent flame resistance.
• Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE): CPE is one of the polymers which is available as both thermoset and thermoplastic.

 2. Thermoset: Commonly used thermoset cable jackets are:

• Neoprene: Neoprene jackets resist permanent deformation under heat and aging due to oxidation. These are made up of synthetic rubber. It is mainly used in mine trailing cables and dredge cables.
• Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR): Ethylene Propylene Rubber is derived from EPR insulation. These cable jackets provide resistance to oxidation, heat, and abrasion.
• Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE): CPE is one of the polymers which is available as both thermoset and thermoplastic.

 Advantages:

• Easy installation.
• Extremely high bandwidth and speed.
• Resistant to temperature, oxidation, etc.
• Can be recycled to reduce cost.
• Safe from the perceptions of living natures.

Disadvantages:

• High cost.
• Bad formability of TPU material.
• In some cable jackets, the color difference between batches is difficult to control.
• In worst cases, the skin may break, and a short circuit may take place.
•  PVC material produces harmful substances and gases which harm the environment.