Plastic Tie-wraps

[KLG]

I work in a Kraft (caustic) pulp mill. We use plastic tie-wraps to secure electrical cable to cable tray in our bleach plant area. The bleach plant area has a very corrosive atmosphere. Plastic tie-wraps have a tendency to only last about 4 years in this atmosphere. Plastic is very detrimental to the pulp process (we cannot tolerate any material getting into our system and end product). What alternatives could someone suggest to use for securing labels and cables that would be resistive to this type of environment? We have tried metal ties, but are difficult to use (usually sharp and cut workers hands). Is there a product like kevlar we might be able to use?

 

[drmelk]

It would be helpful to know the kind of plastic your are using at this time. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and CPVC have excellent corrosion resistance compared to the more common polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon materials. I don't know whether plastic ties are currently made from the chlorinated materials. If not, a manufacturer might be interested in exploring this with you.

 

[sludgeman]

If the ties are made of nylon, thats your problem. Nylon is attacked readily by chlorine and chlorined dioxide. Try a polypropylene or as drmelk suggested a PVC material.

 

[KLG]

You were right drmelk (Materials), we are using 6.6 nylon. After some investigation I found two materials that may stand up to chlorine. It is a Fluroopolymer, market names TEFZEL or HALAR. I will be performing a trial run using these materials in our Chemical conversion operations.

Thanks for your responses

 

Tefzel, Halar, and Polypropylene are all good chemical resistant materials. I have another most people don't know about. It's a recent innovation by Shell chemicals, which has many unique properties. The material is called Polyketone. The ties are flame retardant, contain no dangerous halogens, don't give off "any" dangerous gases during burning, UV resistant, resistant to most chemicals and acids, are non-absorbent, and are not sensitive to temperature or the envirement. These ties will never get brittle and will out perform all others.