HTLP60 vs HTLP80 - What is the Difference?

HTLP60 vs HTLP80

     I get a lot of technical questions emailed to me via this blog...and via our website (www.heatshrinksleeves.com).  These questions come from all over the world. Here is a recent questions I've received from India:

Sir,
What is the difference between HTLP60 and HTLP80?  I am writing the specification for a 6" pipeline and I need to know which product you would recommend and why.

     Obviously, not a lot of information there!  Now, I know that if this project will never become an order for me.  I don't sell material into India and to the best of my knowledge (somewhat limited); Covalence has excellent coverage in terms of sales effort and distribution in India.  But, I am still thrilled that I get to be a part of the process here by sharing my product knowledge and information.  Our business is shrink sleeves.  I've been selling and studying nothing shrink sleeves for 13 years.  My father has been selling and studying shrink sleeves for 30+ years.  In a sense, I've been around "shrink sleeves" either as a profession...or as a witness to household discussions...or tagging along with my Dad to a job site when a vacation was disrupted...or working in production (cutting, bonding and processing shrink sleeves) as a high school student - for almost my entire life (my Dad went to work for Raychem when I was ~4 years old and I'm 42 now).

     When you're sharing knowledge about a product that you believe in; it is fun.  When you're helping to answer a simple question that someone has been trying to track down an answer to for weeks (which happens a lot - phone calls unanswered - referrals to disconnected phone numbers - referrals to people with no product knowledge - etc - etc) - the relief in their voice when they can finally get the answer to a simple technical question is very rewarding.  It is nice to be needed!

     In any case, all of that to say:  I'm thrilled when I get to answer technical questions and offer technical assistance - even when there is no chance of me personally getting any business.  I believe in this Covalence product line (formerly Raychem).

     So here is my answer to the question "what is the difference between HTLP60 and HTLP80?":

Dear Sir,
Thank you for the inquiry.  The basic difference between HTLP60 and HTLP80 is very simple:
HTLP60 utilizes an adhesive that is designed to withstand a continuous pipeline operating temperature of 60C or below.
HTLP80 utilizes an adhesive that is designed to withstand a continuous pipeline operating temperature of 80C or below.

Both are components of a three layer field joint coating system that utilizes a two part epoxy as one of the components of the system.  It is important that the epoxy used be a Covalence(formerly Raychem) epoxy that has been specifically designed to work in conjunction with the HTLP adhesives (generally the S1301M epoxy can be used with either as it is rated to 80C -- the S1239 can be used only with the HTLP60 as it is rated only to 60C).

There are some (what I would consider fairly minor) technical differences in the product performance as can be seen at our website (www.heatshrinksleeves.com).  Both products have a long successful use history.  Both products are proven. 

I'm happy to help you determine the specific part number that I would recommend for this project - but I would need to know:

- pipeline operating temperature once it is in service (design temp)

- what is the factory applied mainline coating?

- what are the cutbacks on the mainline coating?

- will this be a buried line?

- what is the quantity of field joints that will be needed? (important as some products have a minimum order quantity)

If you can answer some of those questions - I am happy to continue the dialogue!

Raychem Shrink Sleeves

Raychem Shrink Sleeves - WCSM Tubing

     I don't mention it much here, but in addition to being Master Distributors for Covalence Heat Shrink Sleeves -- and Distributors for Denso Corrosion Prevention Products (which includes Protal 7200) -- and being distributors for Powercrete J; we are also Elite Distributors for Raychem / Tyco Electronics.  

     Once part of the same company, Raychem Energy and Raychem Pipeline were two divisions underneath the giant (and magical) company that was Raychem Corp.  As Raychem was broken apart; Raychem Pipeline and Raychem Energy ultimately ended up being owned by different companies (Raychem Pipeline now ultimately owned by Berry Plastics as a division of Seal for Life and Raychem Energy now owned by Tyco Electronics).  As a result - there is a LOT of confusion about this topic, if you're interested, here is a slightly more thorough explanation of the history of Raychem Corp as a brand name.

     Taking a quick closer look at the pipeline side of things, none of the owners of the Raychem brand name ever did a very good job of re-branding during the name change periods....so while just about everyone in the world knows the name Raychem as a leader in the world of Pipeline Coatings; the other names we've held don't have that same 'household name' status (Berry CPG, Covalence Raychem, Tyco Adhesives, Covalence, etc).  If you're looking for more information on what used to be Raychem Pipeline products - please fill out the box at the upper right of this blog - or visit the best shrink sleeve website on the planet (yes it is mine), or call us at 936/321-3333 or email me at steve@jsicoatings.com.

     Now, back to the topic at hand; if you're looking for Raychem Energy products (short list below) then you have successfully discovered JSI - an Elite Distributor for Raychem.  I don't write about it much here; but I do have a much smaller blog dedicated to writing about Raychem Energy products and you can give that a gander if you'd like. 

An example of some WCSM shrink tubing

        On the electrical side of things, the purpose of the product isn't so much 'corrosion prevention' (although sealing is a large factor for many of the products); instead, these products are designed to seal, protect and offer electrical insulation.  As you might expect, these products are generally designed for much smaller substrates than the pipeline products would be (with pipeline products being designed for use on pipelines 1" up through 150").  Electrical products are designed for cables, connectors, busbar, lighting wire, etc.  Have questions?  Contact us for questions about Raychem Pipeline Products or Raychem Energy Products - we can help!

Raychem | Raychm | Raycham | Rychem | Ray chem | Reychem| Rachem

Raychem Shrink Sleeves for Pipeline Use and Electrical Use

     Ok!  I know that is an awfully strange title for a post (up there) but this is really meant to serve as a public service announcement.  It seems that just about everyone in the world knows the Raychem name, but many people in the world are unfamiliar with the exact spelling of the name.  That makes sense of course - as Raychem isn't a "real word."  Instead it is a combination of the two words:  Radiation Chemistry.  Of course - based on that (or if you knew that), you would logically think that in that case, Raychem should be spelled Rachem (as some people do).  Well, you'd be incorrect -- but hopefully you'd still find it!

     "A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet."  Well, I think it could also said that a shrink sleeve system (whether for pipeline or electrical application) by any other name...is still as reliable, effective, dependable, available, cost effective and simple to install...."  Is that too long of a slogan for a business card?  I tend to think so.  

     So, if you've found this page because you searched for Raychem using one of the spellings listed above (Raychem, Raychm, Raycham, Rychem, Ray Chem, Reychem or Rachem) - then.....you are welcome!  I hope you haven't google surfed for too long before finding this page!

     Now - if you're here - you may be thinking "ok - thanks for the help...but who are you?" We are Joint Specialists (JSI Coatings).  We are an Elite Distributor for Raychem / Tyco Electronics products (which include hundreds of different products for energy, electrical, splicing, mining, lighting and sealing applications).  We are also a Master Distributor for Covalence Heat Shrinkable products - which was once Raychem's pipeline division (sold off a few times in the last decade or two).  In addition - we are distributors for the Denso line of products - which includes their radically popular Protal 7200 two part epoxy and other tapes, petrolatum tapes, etc for all kinds of sealing and corrosion prevention purposes.  

     We are ready, willing and eager to help you with any technical questions, pricing, quotations, projects or specification work that you might need.  So fill out that little box over there -- or call us at 936/321-3333 - or visit our product website at www.jsicoatings.com - or email me at steve@jsicoatings.com.  Don't waste any more of your time on google searches!!