SPEC 55 LF wire and cable offers 5× ruggedness in space

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

TE Connectivity  (TE) recently released its SPEC 55 low-fluoride (55 LF) wire and cable insulation system  for space and high-altitude environments. The SPEC 55 LF insulation system, made from rugged fluoropolymer, has an outgassing rating of less than 10 PPM, significantly lower than the 20 PPM rating under MIL-SPEC SAE-AS2275. This helps reduce the potential for corrosion of other components due to trapped gases escaping in a vacuum or low-pressure environment, said the company.

The SPEC 55 LF insulation system claims 5× the scrape abrasion requirement under the MIL-SPEC standard. The system also offers design flexibility with options for lightweight single-wall or extra rugged dual-wall variants. A variety of cable configurations are available, including custom options.

The SPEC 55 LF insulation system is qualified to MIL-SPEC SAE-AS22759. The single-wall version is qualified to SAE-AS22759/51 and /52, while the dual-wall variant is qualified to SAE-AS22759/53 and /54. TE claims that it is the only supplier of a dual-wall MIL-SPEC−qualified option and one of two suppliers that offers the single-wall option.

Applications include avionic systems, C4ISR, guidance and seeker systems, and general wire-harnessing systems.