Hypalon (CSPE) or SOLONON? Which one should you choose?

Which one should you choose?

What cable jacket performance do you really need? The wealth of options can be confusing. This comparison chart of cable jacket characteristics can help you sort out the right compound for your application.

In addition to mechanical performance, fire and smoke safety has become an issue in cable selection. A major power generator now specifies low-smoke, non-halogen cable jacket compounds like Southwire’s SOLONON and SOLONON-XL for all their hydro and fossil-fuel plants, and a major Southeastern utility has added SOLONON to its approved list. LS-rated non-halogen cable jackets eliminate the corrosive black smoke that traditional jackets can produce.

SOLONON jacket compounds also give you mechanical protection and thermal ratings equal to or better than chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) compounds such as Hypalon, and SOLONON moisture protection far exceeds CSPE. SOLONON is also a slicker material than CSPE. The lower coefficient of friction reduces pulling tension in conduit installation, so you get easier installation and reduced risk of cable damage. That means higher reliability.

“With consolidation and uncertainty pervading the industry, Hypalon won’t be as readily available as it once was, and price points are apt to see increases,” says Robert Fazio Southwire director of industrial products. “SOLONON is a better-performing alternative to CSPE. SOLONON’s benefits of zero halogen content, increased tensile strength, reduced pulling tension, and improved mechanical and water protection look good even in industrial applications where smoke may not be an issue. It’s also environmentally friendly. What’s more, you can count on Southwire to be here with the product when you need it.”

Cable Jacket Comparison Chart

	PVC	CPE	Hypalon (CSPE)	SOLONON	SOLONON-XL
Physical Properties UL-44
Tensile Strength (PSI) Elongation (%)	1500 100	1400 150	1800 300	2000 160	1800 180
Aging Characteristics (Air oven, 121°C, 168 hrs, per ICEAS-68-516)
Tensile Strength (% of un-aged value)	85	85	85	111	100
Elongation (% of un-aged value)	60	50	65	63	85
Moisture Resistance (7 days in 70°C water; Lower numbers mean better protection.)
Mg absorbed/square inch	8	25	35	14.3	6
Oil Resistance, ASTM #2
Test Temperature (°C) Time of Immersion (Hrs) Tensile Strength (% of un-aged value) Elongation (% of un-aged value)	70 4 80 60	100 18 60 60	121 18 60 60	70 4 65 85	121 18 80 100
Limiting Oxygen Index (Higher numbers mean more protection)	28	28	30	40	40
Flame Resistance
20 Min. at 70,000 BTU/Hr, per IEEE 383 Vertical Ladder Tray Test	Pass	Pass	Pass	Pass	Pass
Low Temperature Rating (Cold bend test)
Temperature Passed (°C)	-10	-35	-30	-40	-40
Coefficient Of Dynamic Friction (µ, in PVC duct; Lower numbers mean easier pulling.)	0.35	0.35	0.5	0.35	0.35
Halogen Content (%)	29	19	13.5	0.0	0.0
Smoke Density ASTM E662 (Lower numbers mean less smoke generated.)
Flaming Mode 04.0 DM Non-Flaming Mode 04.0 DM			325 400 325 480	2.7 59 21 178	57 65 16 300
Limited Smoke Test (Pass/Fail UL-1685)	Fail	Fail	Fail	Pass	Pass