A Trip Back to 1975: Raychem LTPS in Corpus Christi, Texas

This week, we’re heading back in time—December 1975, to be exact—to beautiful Corpus Christi, Texas. The project? A pipeline installation featuring one of Raychem’s now-retired products: LTPS.

Based on old Raychem nomenclature (which, let’s be honest, was usually more practical than poetic), LTPS likely stood for “Large Tubular Pipe Sleeve.” I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—Raychem was incredibly creative when it came to products, backings, and sealants. When it came to naming them? Not so much!

This particular job involved 18-inch and 20-inch pipe, which meant these LTPS sleeves had to be installed before the pipe joints were welded. The process would have looked something like this:

1. Sleeve Placement (Pre-Weld)
   The shrink sleeve was slipped onto the pipe before welding took place.

2. Weld Completion
   Once the joint was welded, the crew prepared the weld area.

3. Surface Prep & Preheat
   The weld zone was cleaned thoroughly and preheated to at least 140°F—critical for proper adhesion and shrink performance.

4. Positioning the Sleeve
   The LTPS sleeve was then slid into place over the weld area.

5. Release Liner Removal
   The liner was removed to expose the adhesive.

6. Shrink It!
   Using a propane torch, the installer shrank the sleeve tightly over the joint, creating a protective, sealed coating.

LTPS has been a dead product for as long as I’ve been around. However, its smaller sibling—TPS—is still very much alive and well. Today, TPS sleeves are regularly sold for 2", 2.5", 3.5", 4.5", 6" and 8".

While product lines evolve, it’s always fascinating to see the roots of today’s solutions in these legacy installations.

What really makes this project memorable are the photos. In one shot, the installer is casually smoking a cigarette through the entire application process—while operating a propane torch.

Different times, indeed.

It’s wild to think that 1975 was 51 years ago. The industry has changed. Safety standards have changed. Product technology has changed. But there’s something timeless about looking back at these projects and appreciating the craftsmanship and ingenuity that laid the groundwork for where we are today.

Here’s to the legacy of LTPS—and to the crews who made it work in Corpus Christi, December 1975.

 

Tubular Shrink Sleeves Aren’t Going Away: A Look at Covalence TPS

This may surprise some folks in the pipeline world, but simple tubular shrink sleeves are still very much in use—especially on smaller diameter pipe. In fact, for many applications, they remain a practical, reliable, and cost-effective solution.

One standout example is Covalence TPS (Tubular Pipe Sleeve), formerly a Raychem product, which continues to see strong demand in the field.

A Proven Solution for Small Diameter Pipe

TPS is available for pipe sizes ranging from 2” through 8”, making it a go-to option for smaller diameter pipelines where simplicity and speed matter. Despite the evolution of field joint coatings over the years, TPS has held its ground—and for good reason.

Straightforward Installation, Strong Performance

Installation is refreshingly simple:

• The TPS sleeve is slipped onto the pipe prior to welding

• Once the weld is complete, the sleeve is slid back into position

• The release liner is removed

• The sleeve is then shrunk in place using a propane torch

No blasting required—wire-brushed pipe surfaces are sufficient, thanks to the highly aggressive mastic sealant that delivers a reliable seal and long-term protection.

If you’ve ever wondered whether TPS is still actively used, consider this:
the pallets stacked behind this sleeve are all TPS. We keep large volumes in stock, with each sleeve providing 18 inches of pipe coverage prior to shrinking. That kind of inventory doesn’t exist unless the product is still solving real-world problems.

TPS may not be the right answer for every project—but when conditions, pipe size, and installation requirements line up, it can be an excellent fit.

If you think Covalence TPS tubular shrink sleeves might work for your application, we’d love to talk it through with you. Sometimes, the simplest solutions are still the best ones.

 

TPS (Tubular Pipe Sleeve) Installation Guide

 TPS Application Instructions

Have questions and don't want to read all of this?  Call 936 321 3333

or email:  steve@jsicoatings.com

     TPS is a slip on sleeve that is used frequently on pipelines where the operating temperature will be under 140F.  Available for pipelines: 2", 2.5", 3.5", 4.5", 6" and 8" there are still a lot of customers out there who prefer installing tubular shrink sleeves to act as their field joint corrosion on standard, buried pipelines (not road bores).  

1. Before making the weld, slide the TPS shrink sleeve over the pipe end and slide it about 12" away from the weld area (LEAVE THE RELEASE PAPER ON).  It is often wise to loosen the release paper before sliding onto the pipe.

2.  Clean the weld area with a hand or power wire brush to remove rust, dirt, weld spatter and foreign mateials.  Also clean the adjacent factory applied pipe coating that will be covered by the sleeve.

3.  Preheat the joint until you reach a temperature of appoximately 140F.

4.  Remove the inner protective release film of the sleeve.  Center the sleeve over the preheated joint allowing 2 inches of overlap (at least) onto the mill coating.  Adjust the flam to approximately 20 inches.  The desired flame should be approximately 1/3 blue cone and 2/3 visible yellow.

5.  Heat the sleeve, beginning in the center.  Start at the bottom and move upward on both sides.  Work to one end, then the other as shrinkage occurs.  Keep the torch moving and apply heat evenly around the sleeve until the pattern of the backing has disappeared and the backing has a smooth surface.  During shrink down occasionally check mastic flow with a gloved finger.  Wrinkles should disappear automatically.  

6.  The sleeve is fully recovered when all of the following have occurred:

- No cold spots on the sleeve surface

- The weld bead profile is visible on the sleeve

- After the sleeve is cool, mastic flow is evident on both edges

- The pattern on the backing has disappeared and the backing has a smooth surface.

Thermofit Tubular Heat Shrink Pipe Sleeves (TPS)

Thermofit Tubular Heat Shrink Pipe Sleeves (TPS)

One-piece heat-shrinkable sleeve for corrosion protection of girth weld joints
on various types of piping systems.

Product Description:

TPS

Construction: two-layer system: 

• First Layer: visco-elastic mastic sealant.
  
• Second Layer: thick-walled, radiation-cross-linked, high density polyethylene.

TPS(M) are heat-shrinkable, tubular sleeves which prevent corrosion of welded pipe joints in distribution lines for sizes up to 8.625"/DN200. For larger sizes, the use of the Raychem wraparound sleeve, WPC, is recommended. This mechanically strong and flexible sleeve is compatible with all standard pipeline coatings and outer jackets.

 The installation is carried out directly on the cleaned and dried (pre-heated) pipe surface without primer. Heat is applied to the sleeve, which shrinks to form a tight fit around the joint. While shrinking, the visco-elastic sealant homogeneously flows to cover the complete surface and fills in all surface irregularities.

 Product Features/Benefits:

• Dimpled backing (TPS) provides a "Permanent Change Indicator" (PCI) for application of heat. Ensures correct application of heat & allows easy post-heat inspection. Reliable inspectability at any time.
• No primer required. Saves installation time.
• Low preheat sensitivity & proven functionality. Allows easy application combined with high functional performance. Saves installation time.
• Mechanically strong & resists abrasion, impact and penetration. Reliable and tough. Remains user-friendly (even at low temperatures).
• Specially formulated sealants. Ensures a strong bond & a tight seal. Provides high peel and shear values after installation.
• Sealing adhesive automatically flows and repairs minor mechanical damages. "Self-healing effect" that saves time.
• No special equipment or skills required. Makes installation fast and easy. Keeps installation costs low.

 Product Selection Guide:

Max operating temperature: 30°C (86°F)
 

Compatible line coatings: PE, FBE, Tape, Coal tar and Asphalt
 

Min preheat temperature: 60°C (140°F)

Recommended pipe preparation: Clean, dry and free of grease
 

Soil stress restrictions: moderate
 

Performance: EN12068; class B30

TPS(M) Type Products are Available: 

• as ready-to-size tubular sleeves
• Drawing sleeve width, pipe diameter
  Take a 10% shrinkage during installation of sleeve width into account when calculating the minimum sleeve width.
• For pipe sizes exceeding DN200, the use of wraparound WPC sleeves is recommended.