Litz Wire

Film Insulations and

www.osco.uk.com

Outer Serve Options

OSCO
Avant Business Centre, Third Avenue,
Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK1 1DR.
T. 01908 376688
E. sales@osco.uk.com
W. www.osco.uk.com
Litz Film Insulations
Insulation Rating AWG Advantages Considerations
Polyvinyl Formal Class 105 14 - 50 • Excellent abrasion resistance • Must be stripped before
MW 15-C • Excellent compatibility with transformer oils soldering
• Good electrical properties • Should be annealed before
• Used in Cryogenic Applications application of varnish

Polyurethane Class 155 30 – 50 • Excellent electrical properties for high Q coils • Not recommended for
MW 79-C • Easily solderable 390°C/360°C applications with the
• Excellent film adhesion and flexibility possibility of severe
Class 180 24-50 • Good moisture and chemical resistance thermal overload
MW 82-C
Polyurethane- Class 155 10 – 46 • Good electrical properties • Not recommended for
Nylon MW 80-C • Easily solderable 430°C/390°C applications with the
• Excellent film adhesion and flexibility possibility of severe
Class 180 25 - 46 • Improved chemical and mechanical thermal overload
MW 83-C resistance from nylon topcoat • Nylon topcoat is
• Nylon overcoat provides low coefficient of hygroscopic
friction

Solderable Class 180 14 – 50 • Solderable 470°C • Low abrasion resistance

Polyester MW 77-C • Excellent thermal properties compared to Nylon and
• Good electrical properties amide imide topcoat
• Good compatibility with varnishes and materials
solvents • Preheat before varnishing
• Improved thermal overload is recommended
• Good moisture resistance

Solderable Class 180 14 – 50 • Solderable 470°C • Nylon topcoat is

Polyester Nylon MW 78-C • Excellent thermal properties hygroscopic
• Good electrical properties • Preheat before varnishing
• Good compatibility with varnishes and is recommended
solvents
• Improved thermal overload
• Good moisture resistance
• Nylon overcoat provides low coefficient of
friction

Polyester(amide)(i Class 200 34 – 44 • Excellent flexibility and abrasion resistance • Must be stripped before
mide) MW 74-C • Excellent thermal overload soldering
• Excellent dielectric strength • Not recommended for use
• Excellent moisture resistance in oil-filled transformers
• Good chemical resistance • Preheat before varnishing

Polyester / Poly- Class 200 8 – 33 • Excellent flexibility and abrasion resistance • Must be stripped before
amideimide MW35-C • Excellent thermal overload soldering
Overcoat • Excellent dielectric strength • Preheat before varnishing
• Excellent moisture resistance
• Good chemical resistance

Polyimide Class 240 10 - 30 • Excellent flexibility • Must be stripped before

MW 16-C • Excellent thermal overload soldering
• Excellent radiation resistance • Must be annealed before
• Excellent chemical compatibility varnishing
• High dielectric strength • Will solvent craze
• Adequate abrasion resistance
• Low outgas
Litz Fiber and Tape Insulations
Insulation Recommended Max. Advantages Limitations
Use Temperature
Cotton 105°C • Low cost serving • Poor space factor
• Good resistance to abrasion compared to Nylon or
Celanese
• Non-solderable

Nylon 155°C • Good space factor • Hygroscopic

• Excellent abrasion resistance
• Solderable

Dacron® (Polyester) 155°C • Good abrasion resistance • Better space factor than
• Solderable Cotton or Glass but
• Slightly higher maximum poorer space factor than
operating temperature than Nylon
Nylon

Nomex® (Hi-Temp Aramid) 250°C • Good space factor • Non-solderable

• Good electrical properties at • Higher cost than other
high temperatures fibers

Glass 260°C • Good electrical properties at • Space factor equivalent

high temperatures to Cotton
• Non-solderable

Tape Insulation Recommended Max. Characteristics

Use Temperature
Polyester (PET) • High dielectric strength
Mylar® • Good abrasion often used as a binder or moisture barrier
(heat sealable grades 135°C under extruded jackets and textile serves or braids.
available)

Nomex® 200°C • Excellent thermal properties

(aromatic polyamide) (up to 220°C under certain • Excellent electrical properties
conditions) • Excellent compatibility with varnishes, adhesives and
transformer fluids.
• Thinner grades are flexible
• Good resistance to tearing and abrasion.

Polyimide Kapton® 240°C • Very high dielectric strength

(Heat sealable and adhesive (up to 400°C under certain • Very good chemical resistance
grades available) conditions) • UL 94 V-0 flame rating
• Excellent mechanical properties.

Fiberglass Cloth Ultimate operating • Excellent electrical properties at high temperatures

temperature determined • Conformable
by application and glass • Varnish compatible grades available
type • Excellent solvent resistance.

Mica Ultimate operating • Excellent electrical properties at high temperatures

temperature determined • Flame resistant
by application and glass • Retains useful electrical properties during and after exposure
type to fire.
Extruded Insulations for Litz Conductors
Extruded Insulation Maximum Common Use Advantages
Temperature
ETFE 155°C • Thin wall winding wire • Good winding characteristics
• High frequency interconnect • Better at tight bend than other
• Primary in Multiconductor fluropolymers
• Excellent heat resistance
• Excellent water / chemical resistance

FEP 200°C • Thin wall winding wire • Excellent heat resistance

• High frequency interconnect • Outstanding water / chemical
• Primary in Multiconductor resistance
• Outstanding flame retardancy
• Low outgas

PFA 250°C • Thin wall winding wire • Excellent heat resistance

• High frequency interconnect • Outstanding water / chemical
• Primary in Multiconductor resistance
• Outstanding flame retardancy
• Low outgas

PE/PP 75°C • Litz Coax / Triax • Very good dielectric properties

• Outstanding water resistance

PVC 105°C • Winding wire • Least expensive

• High frequency interconnect • Excellent flame resistance
• Primary in Multiconductor • Excellent flexibility
• Medical grades

Polyurethane 90° - 105°C • High frequency interconnect • Excellent abrasion resistance

• Very good flexibility
• Can be coiled
• Halogen free

Polyester 90° - 105°C • High frequency interconnect • Excellent abrasion resistance

• Thin wall winding wire • Can be coiled
• Excellent flex life characteristics
• Halogen free

TPE 90° - 125°C • High frequency interconnect • Highly flexible grades

• Medical grades
• Light weight grades
• Halogen free FR grades

Silicone 200°C • High frequency interconnect • Outstanding flexibility

• High voltage interconnect • Outstanding heat resistance
• Medical grades