FEP medical heat shrink tube offers one of the most balanced performance properties among current medical heat shrink tubing materials.
Once processed into heat shrink tubing, FEP is heated to a specific temperature, returning it from its pre-expanded form to its original diameter.
This unique combination of “wrapping,” “setting,” and “protection” is achieved, making it widely used in a variety of applications, including catheter heat shrink compounding, coating protection, and welding assistance.
Three Core Advantages of Medical-Grade FEP Heat Shrink Tube
High Transparency
Whether observing the positioning of inner tubes or the structural alignment of multi-layer tubes, FEP heat shrink tube provides “what you see is what you get” clarity.
Visual consistency is particularly critical when preparing microcatheters and double-layer tubes.
Low Friction and Low Adhesion
Its surface coefficient of friction is as low as 0.1-0.2, second only to PTFE. It is ideal for balloon catheters or protective layers where reduced pulling resistance and interlayer adhesion are required.
Controllable Thermal Stability and Dimensional Retraction
FEP heat shrink tubing offers typical shrink ratios of 1.3x, 1.6x, and 2x, with shrink temperatures generally ranging from 205-240°C.
It is compatible with thermoplastic materials such as PEBAX and PA and is unlikely to cause deformation or bubbles in the inner layer.
Medical-grade FEP heat shrink tubing applications:
1. Guidewire sheathing (interventional, access)
2. Surgical instrument coating
3. Insulation
4. Component wrapping
5. Waterproofing
6. Abrasion/corrosion protection
7. Reflow soldering
8. Encapsulation
Key features of medical FEP heat shrink tubing:
1. Biocompatibility: Medical FEP heat shrink tubing is a biocompatible material that meets the requirements of medical devices and does not trigger immune or allergic reactions in the human body.
This makes it suitable for the manufacture of medical devices and implants.
2. High-Temperature Resistance: FEP material exhibits excellent high-temperature resistance and can withstand high-temperature sterilization and disinfection processes without deformation or degradation.
This makes it suitable for devices that require regular sterilization in medical environments.
3. Compatibility with autoclave, gamma, ETO, steam, and dry heat sterilization.
4. Transparency: FEP material has a high degree of transparency, making it suitable for medical applications requiring visual inspection or optical observation, such as endoscopes and testing equipment. It can also be produced in various colors.
5. Good Insulation: FEP heat shrink tubing has excellent insulating properties and can be used for insulating wires and cables, helping to reduce electrical failures and hazards.
6. Abrasion Resistance: FEP heat shrink tubing exhibits a certain degree of abrasion resistance, protecting internal components from mechanical stress and extending their service life.
7. Easy to install: Medical FEP heat shrink tubing can be quickly shrunk to the required size by heating, simplifying the installation process and ensuring a tight covering of the protected parts.
The seal can prevent the entry of bacteria, fungi, mold, etc.
FEP heat shrink tube Main Features And Aplications
| Main Features | 1. After shrinking, it separates cleanly along pre-weakened seams for easy removal without damaging delicate components.
2. Medical-grade FEP material – Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) is biocompatible and chemically resistant, meeting USP Class VI and ISO 10993 standards. 3. Heat-shrinkable – Heat creates a snug, conformable fit (typical shrink ratio: 1.3:1 or 1.6:1), providing secure temporary protection. 4. Sterilization compatibility – Withstands gamma radiation, ethylene oxide (EtO), and autoclave sterilization, making it suitable for use in sterile medical environments. 5. Thin-walled and flexible – Maintains microcatheter maneuverability while minimizing bulk. 6. Transparent – Allows for visual inspection of underlying components during assembly. 7. Low-friction and non-stick – Facilitates smooth catheter insertion/removal without sticking. |
| Application | 1. Microcatheter Assembly – Temporary bundling of lumen, guidewire, or catheter shaft during manufacturing. 2. Strain Relief – Strengthens connection points prior to epoxy curing or permanent bonding.
3. Sterile Barrier – Protects sensitive areas during handling/transport (peeled off after sterilization). 4. Label/Sleeve – Marks components for identification (removed after handling). 5. Minimally Invasive Devices – Used in neurovascular, cardiovascular, and electrophysiology catheters. |
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1.3 : 1 FEP FEP Heat shrink tube AWG Specification
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| AWG SIZE | ID before Shrink ( D) | Recovery ID (d) | Wall thickness Standard | Tolerance ( ± ) | ||||
| INCH | MM | INCH | MM | INCH | MM | INCH | MM | |
| 13 | 0.075 | 1.905 | 0.061 | 1.549 | 0.009 | 0.229 | 0.002 | 0.051 |
| 12 | 0.092 | 2.337 | 0.072 | 1.829 | 0.009 | 0.229 | 0.002 | 0.051 |
| 11 | 0.115 | 2.921 | 0.089 | 2.261 | 0.009 | 0.229 | 0.002 | 0.051 |
| 10 | 0.141 | 3.581 | 0.114 | 2.896 | 0.010 | 0.254 | 0.003 | 0.076 |
| 9 | 0.158 | 4.013 | 0.124 | 3.150 | 0.010 | 0.254 | 0.003 | 0.076 |
| 8 | 0.180 | 4.572 | 0.143 | 3.632 | 0.010 | 0.254 | 0.003 | 0.076 |
| 7 | 0.197 | 5.004 | 0.158 | 4.013 | 0.011 | 0.279 | 0.004 | 0.102 |
| 6 | 0.225 | 5.715 | 0.180 | 4.572 | 0.011 | 0.279 | 0.004 | 0.102 |
| 5 | 0.248 | 6.299 | 0.198 | 5.029 | 0.011 | 0.279 | 0.004 | 0.102 |
| 4 | 0.290 | 7.366 | 0.226 | 5.740 | 0.011 | 0.279 | 0.004 | 0.102 |
| 3 | 0.310 | 7.874 | 0.249 | 6.325 | 0.011 | 0.279 | 0.004 | 0.102 |
| 2 | 0.365 | 9.271 | 0.280 | 7.112 | 0.012 | 0.305 | 0.004 | 0.102 |
| 1 | 0.400 | 10.160 | 0.311 | 7.899 | 0.012 | 0.305 | 0.004 | 0.102 |
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FEP Heat shrink tube 1.6 : 1 Shrink ratio Specification
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| Specification | Exp ID ( D) | Recovery ID (d) | Wall thickness | |||||||
| Tolerance ( ± ) | ||||||||||
| Inch | Inch | （mm） | Inch | mm | Inch | mm | Inch | mm | Inch | mm |
|
3/32 |
0.094 |
2.38 |
0.094 |
2.38 |
0.056 |
1.422 |
0.008 |
0.203 |
0.003 |
0.076 |
|
1/8 |
0.125 |
3.18 |
0.125 |
3.18 |
0.075 |
1.905 |
0.010 |
0.254 |
0.003 |
0.076 |
|
3/16 |
0.188 |
4.76 |
0.188 |
4.76 |
0.115 |
2.921 |
0.010 |
0.254 |
0.003 |
0.076 |
|
1/4 |
0.250 |
6.35 |
0.250 |
6.35 |
0.150 |
3.810 |
0.010 |
0.254 |
0.003 |
0.076 |
|
3/8 |
0.375 |
9.53 |
0.375 |
9.53 |
0.225 |
5.715 |
0.012 |
0.305 |
0.003 |
0.076 |
| 1/2 | 0.500 | 12.70 | 0.500 | 12.70 | 0.300 | 7.620 | 0.015 | 0.381 | 0.004 | 0.102 |
| 3/4 | 0.750 | 19.05 | 0.750 | 19.05 | 0.450 | 11.430 | 0.020 | 0.508 | 0.004 | 0.102 |
| 1 | 1.000 | 25.40 | 1.000 | 25.40 | 0.600 | 15.240 | 0.025 | 0.635 | 0.005 | 0.127 |
|
1-1/2 |
1.500 |
38.10 |
1.500 |
38.10 |
0.900 |
22.860 |
0.030 |
0.762 |
0.005 |
0.127 |
| 2 | 2.000 | 50.80 | 2.000 | 50.80 | 1.200 | 30.480 | 0.030 | 0.762 | 0.005 | 0.127 |
Contact Shenzhen Forbest today to discuss your Medical FEP heat shrink Tubing requirements, request samples, or get a detailed quote. Let us provide the high-performance Heat shrink tube solution that helps your products and ideas excel.