Besides the obvious fact that to be suitable for use as welding cable, an electrical conductor should be of the appropriate gauge and thereby voltage and ampacity rating for the given discipline, there are two main attributes that define it. 

One is that it is highly flexible. Because welding is often done on large, fixed workpieces, and in situ, it is necessary to get the welding equipment into position, not the other way around. For this reason welding cable is often marketed as flexible welding cable and is made with a high conductor count to ensure this trait.

The other is that, given the harsh nature of the conditions under which welding is often done, and often outside and in the elements, welding cable must be made with a suitable electrical insulation material that protects it against a wide range of factors. 

For instance, our 4/0 welding cable is made with a highly durable EPDM material. This post will go over some of the details of that, along with why it’s a good insulator in the first place. 

What Is EPDM?

Ethylene propylene diene monomer, also known as EPDM, is a synthetic rubber that has a wide range of industrial applications, in this case, for use as an insulator for electrical wire and cable. 

Chemically, EPDM, is made of several different polymers, which are ethylene, propylene, and a diene comonomer that are crosslinked using a process known as sulfur vulcanization. The compound is then often filled with materials such as carbon black or plasticizers that alter the chemical or physical properties (or both) of the polymer. 

The details of the processes used to make it, however, are not as important as the properties conferred, which make it suitable for use as an insulator on electrical wire and cable, like flexible welding cable. 

Why Is It Good Insulation for 4/0 Welding Cable?

First, let’s take a closer look at some of the physical properties of the EPDM insulation used on our 4/0 welding cable. 

EPDM is conformable, non-permeable and has reasonably high tensile strength, which gives it a good ability to resist stresses when it is stretched. However, in this capacity, the most important physical property of EPDM is that it is extremely flexible. 

It is highly resistant to heat as well, but the more important aspect of EPDM is that its flexibility is minimally impacted by extreme cold, and it remains flexible to temperatures as low as nearly 50 degree below zero. 

This, of course, is a critical attribute when it is used on flexible welding cable that is used outside and which must remain flexible in all conditions, even in the winter. 

As far as other physical properties are concerned, while there are certainly rubbers that are physically tougher, EPDM is definitely prized for its abrasion resistance. It offers moderate to good resistance to general physical wear and tear, partly due to its softness and flexibility. 

In addition to its exceptional flexibility and its general resistance to wear and tear, EPDM also has a number of chemical properties that make it suitable for use in this application. 

EPDM offers surprisingly good resistance to heat, light, and ozone. Because of its relatively high resistance to light, it’s suitable for use outside, which makes it effective for use as welding cable. In this capacity, some welding cables are also practical for use as solar panel cable, for the same reasons. 

In addition, EPDM is very resistant to weathering, which includes swings in temperature as well as exposure to precipitation and high humidity. 

Chemically, EPDM is also resistant to alkalis, ketones, certain hydraulic fluids, and generally resistant to most diluted inorganic acids. 

While EPDM is not generally considered resistant to most hydrocarbons, our 4/0 welding cable delivers excellent value because it is relatively resistant to oil and gas. This makes it much more practical for use as welding cable.

This is just a snapshot of some of the selling points of our flexible welding cable for sale as evidenced by the insulation material it uses. It should also be noted that this cable, because of these features, can also be used in some applications as solar panel cable as well as battery cable and for inverters. 

Shop Flexible Welding Cable for Sale Here 

Our 4/0 welding cable, like all of our flexible welding cable for sale, delivers incredible value and performance and as such it is useful for a wide range of applications and installations that go beyond welding. 

For more information on our welding cable or on any of the other electrical wire and cable we sell here at EWCS Wire, get in touch with us directly at 800-262-1598 or by email at Sales@EWCSWire.com and we will help you out.