Specialty textiles like water-blocking yarn go far beyond the typical applications of textile products and yarns. At Tex Tech, we develop high-quality water-blocking yarns that can protect electronic cables, wiring assemblies, and electrical components from exposure to water and moisture.
Learn more about protecting sensitive electronics and electrical devices from harsh weather with specialty yarns from Tex Tech. We’ll also cover common outdoor operating conditions and stringently regulated medical contamination concerns.
Why Water-Blocking Yarn?
Cables, electrical products, and wearable electronics can all benefit from built-in protection. Whether you know your products will be used outside or they’ll be frequently handled and used, proactively guaranteeing moisture can never reach the sensitive components is an excellent design practice—and depending on your industry, it might even be required.
Water-blocking yarns serve as a lightweight alternative to water-blocking gels, quickly absorbing and expanding to handle moisture. Not only do these yarns have the internal capacity to manage large amounts of moisture, but their automatic swelling can seal the gap and prevent more moisture from entering the assembly.
At Tex Tech, we produce a wide range of yarns with different sizes, absorption speeds, and moisture management capacities. The yarn will dry after the moisture source is removed, providing multiple cycles of protection throughout the product’s lifespan.
Each of our water-blocking yarns is designed for easy installation. It can quickly be added inside cables with virtually no prep time and can be cut with general-purpose scissors. You can also use standard tools for binding, ripcords, and filler to add it to existing equipment as an after-market solution.
Using water-blocking yarn from Tex Tech with your products can protect sensitive electrical components, reduce product weight compared to gels, and create the right level of exposure protection for every project. We are an ISO 9001-certified organization, and every yarn product reflects our commitment to quality standards and consistency.
Water-Blocking Yarn Applications
Water-blocking yarns provide critical protection for electrical and electronic goods across different industries and applications. Tex Tech yarns are used with the following products and assemblies:
- Conductors
- Data cables
- Fiber optic cables
- Fillers for multicore cables
- Power cables
- Wraps for multicore cables
We construct all of our water-blocking yarns with blends of polyester and super-absorbent fibers. Every product is tested during manufacturing with our coordinate measuring machines (CMM) testing processes and given a certificate of conformity. Choose from ring-spun and wrap-spun yarn fibers in tube or cone packaging, with small packages starting at 0.5kg and going up to 17kg.
Pros and Cons of Common Water-Blocking Treatments
Product manufacturers have a wide range of water-blocking treatments to choose from. However, not every solution will be the right fit for your products and applications. Compare these common treatments to find the right one for your next project:
Water-Blocking Gel
Pros
- Seals all potential gaps from the start
- Ideal for submerged products or products continually exposed to water
Cons
- Heavier product, especially for very lightweight goods
- Adds significant prep time
- Can be messy and hard to work with
Water-Blocking Powder
Pros
- A wide array of options on the market
- Can be dried and reactivated
Cons
- Messy and can contaminate product components
- Requires an additional blowing process with specialized equipment
Water-Blocking Yarn
Pros
- Very lightweight
- No mess or prep time involved
- Can be added during initial manufacturing or to existing assemblies
- Available in a wide range of speeds and absorption capacities
- Can be reactivated for continual protection
Cons
- Requires water activation to swell and seal gaps (choosing a yarn product with the right speed is important)
- Not ideal for submerged applications
OASIS Water-Swellable Yarn
OASIS yarns are specially designed to protect cables from water ingress using super absorbent yarns. They minimize water penetration and restrict potential cable damage. At Tex Tech, our yarns are produced using 70% recycled fiber. Our OASIS swellable yarns are available from 500 denier to 270,000 denier, in a range of thicknesses to meet the needs of varying applications.
Industries such as power, data and telecommunications, and fiber-optic cables all rely on these products for applications such as cross laying, watertight conductors, and fillers between and over multicore cables. All Tex Tech yarns are designed to provide outstanding performance in the most challenging environments, delivering benefits such as:
- Clean and efficient product build
- High swell rate
- Superior absorption
- High tenacity strength
- Effective blocking of water ingress
Tex Tech manufactures OASIS Super Absorbent Yarn, which comes in a range of both long-staple ring-spun and long-staple wrap-spun style super absorbent yarns. These proprietary fiber blends are uniquely designed to be highly absorbent. When they come into contact with moisture, they immediately swell to create a barrier that prevents the moisture from further entering a cable or electronic product. In addition to their industry-leading swelling and absorption properties, OASIS Super Absorbent Yarn products also provide the most consistent performance among similar products. These products deliver superior strength and are a cleaner option than comparable coated yarns, generating less dust. They are available in a range of sizes and diameters to meet the needs of diverse applications.
Water-Blocking Yarns From Tex Tech
Building protection into electrical assemblies, devices, and equipment helps products perform more reliably. At Tex Tech, we’ve been developing specialty textiles and fabrics for over 100 years, and we’re here to help you build protection from water and the elements into your designs.
Cables and sensitive electronics require specialized materials to ensure reliability in challenging environments. Tex Tech manufactures super absorbent yarns that provide industry-leading moisture protection. We have more than 100 years of experience in the technical textile industry and are committed to delivering the most cutting-edge textile and yarn solutions on the market.
Our manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe, and Asia create more than 7,000 products used across diverse and demanding industries. To learn more about our water absorption products or to get started on your personalized solution, contact us or request a quote today.
