TUCOR – Corrugated Tubes in PP and PA

TUCOR – Corrugated Tubes in PP and PA

Tucab presents TUCOR, an innovative line of corrugated tubes in PP (polypropylene) and PA (polyamide), self-extinguishing and halogen-free, ideal for safe electrical conduction in automation, automotive systems and industrial installations. Ensure protection, flexibility and durability with TUCOR! Find out more about TUCOR tubes on the official Tucab website: tucab.pt/pt/Tubos/TuCor-Tubos-Corrugados

Characteristics of TUCOR Tubes:

• Corrugated Design: Wavy structure that provides high flexibility and mechanical resistance, allowing installation in confined spaces, sharp curves and difficult-to-access environments. Available in varying diameters (from 10 mm to 100 mm) and customizable lengths, depending on the project.

• Materials Used:
• PP (Polypropylene):
• High chemical and thermal resistance (up to 120–130°C), ideal for hot industrial environments.

• Lightness and flexibility, facilitating transport, installation and handling.

• Self-extinguishing, does not propagate flames in case of fire, and free from halogen, reducing toxic emissions.

• Good impact resistance, even at low temperatures, but requires UV additives for sun protection, increasing costs.

• PA (Polyamide):
• Excellent mechanical, thermal (up to 150°C) and chemical resistance, withstanding oils, fuels and solvents.

• Greater rigidity than PP, ideal for applications requiring structural support or high pressure.

• Lightness and durability, but less flexible than PP, which may require adjustments in sharp curves.

• Self-extinguishing and halogen-free, with good natural UV resistance, but higher cost than PP.

• Self-extinguishing: TUCOR tubes are designed to self-extinguish quickly in the event of a fire, reducing the risk of flame spread and protecting internal cables.

• Halogen-free: Materials free of chlorine, fluorine or bromine, ensuring minimum emissions of toxic gases in case of combustion, in line with environmental and safety standards.

• Flexibility and Resistance: Light but robust structure, with grooves that increase resistance to compression, traction and impacts, protecting cables against damage mechanical, humidity, dust and extreme temperatures.

• Durability: Estimated useful life of 20–25 years under normal conditions, with properties that resist fungi, bacteria, insects and rodents, as well as bad weather (with UV additives for PP).

• Technical Specifications:
• Compliance with standards such as ISO 9001:2015 (quality), ISO 14001:2015 (environment), ISO 45001:2018 (occupational safety), and TÜV Rheinland (ID 9103624139).

• Resistance to moderate pressures (up to 10 bar for PA, depending on diameter) and temperatures from -40°C to 120°C (PP) or 150°C (PA).

• Available in colors such as black (PP/PA) or white (PP), with customized options on demand, including weather and wear-resistant finishes.

• Compatible with low and medium voltage cables (up to 1000 V), with internal diameters that accommodate multiple wires or cables.

Main Applications:

• Industrial Automation: Protection and organization of cables in production lines, control systems, sensors and actuators, reducing failures and facilitating maintenance.

• Automotive Sector: Conducting wiring in vehicles (panels, engines, electronic systems), resisting vibrations, variable temperatures and oils/fuels, especially with PA.

• Electrical Installations: Use in conduits, electrical panels and distribution systems in industrial environments, residential and commercial, ensuring safety against shocks and short circuits.

• IT Infrastructures and Data Centers: Organization of cables in racks and IT systems, optimizing air flow, reducing the risk of overheating and protecting against mechanical damage.

• Public Lighting Systems: Protection of cables in poles, signs and urban networks, withstanding external conditions such as humidity, UV and impacts.

Why Choose TUCOR?

• Advanced Safety: Self-extinguishing and absence of halogen minimize the risk of fire and toxic emissions, protecting equipment, cables and people. Reduces the risk of electrical accidents by up to 50%, according to Tucab's internal tests.

• Flexibility and Efficiency: Corrugated design facilitates installation in complex spaces, reducing assembly time by up to 25% compared to rigid tubes, saving costs and labor.

• Exceptional Durability: Offers a useful life of 20–25 years, even in aggressive environments, with proven resistance to impacts, abrasion and weathering (with UV additives for PP), reducing maintenance costs.

• Sustainability: Recyclable materials (PP and PA) with reintegration of waste in Tucab production processes (ISO 14001:2015), promoting circular economy. PP can be produced with biopropylene, and PA with renewable polyamide, reducing the carbon footprint by up to 30%.

• Certified Quality: Compliance with international standards such as EN 16436-1:2014+A3:2020 (electrical safety), NP 4436:2005 (national standards for cables), and ISO 14644 (production under controlled conditions, if applicable to specific versions). TÜV Rheinland certification ensures reliability and safety.

• Cost-Benefit: Lightweight and durable materials reduce transportation, installation and replacement costs, offering significant returns for industries and end consumers.

• Versatility and Customization: Available in tailor-made diameters, lengths and colors, adapting to specific projects, with technical support from Tucab's R&D team (NP 4457) for customized solutions.

• Protection Against Adverse Conditions: Resists humidity, dust, oils, fuels (especially with PA), temperatures from -40°C to 150°C (PA) or 120°C (PP), and UV (with additives for PP), ideal for external and industrial environments.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Materials Used:

• PP (Polypropylene):
• Advantages: Chemical and thermal resistance, lightness, flexibility, self-extinguishing, halogen-free, recyclable, cost competitive.

• Disadvantages: Lower UV resistance without additives (requires stabilizers), susceptible to frictional wear in high-motion applications, less rigid than PA for heavy loads.

• PA (Polyamide):
• Advantages: High mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance, structural rigidity, good natural UV resistance, ideal for high pressure, recyclable.

• Disadvantages: Less flexible than PP, higher cost, sensitive to hydrolysis in conditions of prolonged high humidity, more complex processing.

Sustainability of Raw Materials:

• Tucab adopts a sustainable approach, reintegrating PP and PA waste into its production processes, in accordance with ISO 14001:2015 and NP 4457. All materials are recyclable, with a focus on:
• Green PP: Use of biopropylene (based on renewable resources) to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25%.

• PA Renewable: Development of polyamides based on renewable sources, reducing dependence on oil and environmental impact.

• Production is optimized to minimize waste, with 100% of plastic waste reused internally or recycled by certified partners, reducing the carbon footprint by up to 40% (according to Tucab's internal data).

• Halogen-free materials contribute to a lower environmental impact during combustion, aligning with EU environmental directives.

Associated Standards and Certifications:

• Compliance with EN 16436-1:2014+A3:2020 (safety for electric driving), NP 4436:2005 (national standards for cables), and ISO 14644 (clean room production, if applicable to specific versions).

• TÜV Rheinland (ID 9103624139) and ISO 9001:2015, 14001:2015, 45001:2018 certifications, ensuring quality, safety and environmental responsibility at every step.

Installation and Maintenance Tips:

• Installation: Use manual or automatic tools to adjust the tubes to the desired curves, ensuring that the cables are inserted smoothly to avoid damage. It is recommended to fix with suitable supports at intervals of 50–100 cm, depending on the weight and diameter of the cables. For PA, avoid sharp curves to avoid cracks at high pressure.

• Maintenance: Periodically clean with a damp cloth to remove dust from the grooves, avoiding accumulation that could compromise ventilation. Check physical integrity annually, especially outdoors, to ensure continued protection against UV (PP) and moisture.

• Storage: Keep tubes in dry locations, protected from extreme temperatures (>120°C for PP, >150°C for PA) and prolonged humidity (especially for PA), to preserve flexibility and prevent deformation.

For more details, including full technical specifications, installation videos or samples, visit our website or contact our technical team: comercial@tucab.pt or (+351) 962 813 450.

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