 CSPE Compatibility |
CSPE, or chlorosulfonated polyethylene jacketed cable, otherwise commonly known as "Hypalon" (a registered trademark of DuPont), is a specialty fire-retardant product commonly used in nuclear plants and other fire-sensitive environments. Like many other specialty cables, the unique chemistry of a CSPE jacket makes it sensitive to interaction with other materials, rendering many cable pulling lubricants incompatible. This, in some cases, includes our own specification-grade Polywater J, depending on the cable manufacturer. One lesson from the CSPE example is that cable jacket chemistry is increasingly complex, and compatibility with lubricants is something that engineers and installers must consider. Polywater is the leader in researching lubricant compatibility, and continuously develops specialty lubricants to target specific cables. No other manufacturers do this. It's a point that must be driven home to specifiers, end users, and distributors alike. So what is compatible with CSPE cable? Answer: possibly several Polywater lubricants (depending on the cable manufacturer) but to ensure superior performance and tested compatibility, Polywater LZ is the right choice. This is confirmed in the online literature for our other lubricants where we qualify compatibility with "common cable jackets" by adding an exception for CSPE (unless specifically tested), just as we do for zero halogen cables. LZ, on the other hand, has been tested and is compatible, as noted on the flyer and tech sheet. With the likelihood of more nuclear plant construction and CSPE installation in the future, you should be prepared for questions. For CSPE jackets, Polywater LZ is our recommendation. |
