TRATOS®Kynar/PVC Armoured
Cathodic Protection Cable

This single-core armoured cable is designed for use as the connecting cable in cathodic protection systems worldwide, the armour lends itself to direct burial installations, although, for continuous immersion in water, an HDPE sheath gives greater protection. A fluoropolymer, Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), Trade name Kynar, is a tough engineering thermoplastic, well known for its excellent resistance to a wide range of chemicals, most acids and acid mixtures, weak bases, halogens, halogenated solvents, hydrocarbons, alcohols, salts and oxidants. Kynar has high dielectric strength and excellent mechanical properties over a wide temperature range leading to it becoming a popular choice as a reduced wall primary insulation. Kynar has low permeability leading to its choice for special applications such as cathodic protection where chlorine and hydrogen gasses could be present.

Immediately over the inner layer of Kynar Tratos extrude an inner layer of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Molecular Weight Polyethylene and then apply a helical layer of Galvanised Steel wires. The outer sheath is a thick layer of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which is a member of the thermoplastic polyethylene (PE) family. The higher the density of the material, the greater the crystallinity and, therefore, the greater the hardness and stiffness. Primarily HDPE is used as a sheath because of its toughness and excellent water resistance, though it also has good resistance to chemicals and some solvents. However, it has only moderate resistance to oils and, although classed as halogen-free, has the disadvantage of being flammable. Low-temperature performance is very good. Unlike PVC sheathed cables which should not be installed or flexed when the temperature is below 0oC polyethylene sheathed cables can be safely installed at sub-zero temperatures.

Tratos XLPE/HDPE cables offer performance and reliability over an extended lifetime in cathodic protection applications where moisture or water are present continually or for long periods of time.  HDPE coverings also provide corrosion protection in installations where this is a problem.