Molex Incorporated introduces Temp-Flex® FEP Flat-Ribbon Cable, the only FEP solution on the market that meets the MIL-Spec requirement for M49055/11 & M49055/12 for harsh environment applications such as those found in aircraft avionics and industrial equipment at the Military Communications Conference (MILCOM) in booth 317, October 6-8, Baltimore Convention Center. Unlike competitive PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers) products, Molex offers extruded FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene) dielectric insulation material for a high-performance ribbon cable that can withstand exposure to chemicals, extreme temperatures, abrasions and flexure.

“Signal failure has long been prevalent in military, aerospace and industrial equipment applications due to the limited capability of PVC and TPE cables, which can degrade after repeat exposure to harsh conditions,” said Jeet Sanyal, engineering manager, Molex.

“Temp-Flex FEP cables were specifically designed for the most severe environments, yet they remain extremely flexible, making them ideal for today's smaller more rugged applications including flight data recorder boxes, missile systems and robotics found in manufacturing plants across multiple industries.”

Temp-Flex FEP Flat-Ribbon Cables are durable in temperatures ranging from -65 to +200°C and they are resistant to acids, alcohols, aldehydes, bases, esters, hydrocarbons (aliphatic, aromatic, and halogenated), ketones and oxidizing agents. An extruded cable encapsulates each conductor with insulation that will not delaminate, while the low-loss dielectric constant (2.1) ensures the optimum signal transmission with minimal loss. The cables can be mass terminated using a conventional Insulation Displacement Termination/Connector (IDT/IDC) technology for efficiency and cost-savings. In addition, Molex offers commercial grade/standard cables in a variety of conductor sizes (16 to 32 AWG), materials (bare copper, silver-plated copper and high-strength alloy) and pitches, making it easier for users to customize their solution based on specific requirements such as current, voltage, space restrictions, tensile strength, flexibility and flex life.