CE Phenolic Tube — IDs, ODs, Wall Thicknesses & Lengths
CE phenolic tube is hollow cylindrical stock produced from NEMA Grade CE canvas phenolic laminate — coarse cotton fabric saturated in phenolic resin and wound or compression-molded into tube form. Ready Plastics stocks CE phenolic tube for insulating sleeves, conduit liners, bearing housings, and spacer applications where a pre-formed hollow section reduces machining time. NEMA LI-1 governs Grade CE.
At a glance:
- OD range: approximately 0.375" to 6.0"
- Wall thickness: standard walls from 0.062" to 0.500"+
- Standard length: 48" (4 ft) per piece; cut-to-length available
- Tolerances: OD ±0.010", ID ±0.015" typical for stock sizes
- Material: NEMA Grade CE — coarse cotton-fabric phenolic laminate (NEMA LI-1)
- Production method: Compression-molded or filament-wound thermoset
- Color: Natural tan
Standard Tube Size Table
CE phenolic tube is stocked in the following representative sizes:
| OD | Wall Thickness | ID (approx.) | Standard Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.500" | 0.062" | 0.376" | 48" |
| 0.750" | 0.093" | 0.564" | 48" |
| 1.000" | 0.125" | 0.750" | 48" |
| 1.250" | 0.125" | 1.000" | 48" |
| 1.500" | 0.187" | 1.126" | 48" |
| 2.000" | 0.250" | 1.500" | 48" |
| 3.000" | 0.375" | 2.250" | 48" |
| 4.000" | 0.500" | 3.000" | 48" |
Non-standard OD/wall combinations available on request. Cut-to-length minimum is one piece.
Mechanical & Electrical Properties
CE phenolic tube properties derive from the NEMA Grade CE laminate per NEMA LI-1:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 36,000 psi (245 MPa) |
| Flexural strength (LW, 0.125") | 17,000 psi (115 MPa) |
| Compressive strength | 10,000 psi (68 MPa) |
| Shear strength | 14,000 psi (96 MPa) |
| Bond strength | 1,900 psi (13 MPa) |
| Rockwell hardness (M-scale) | 100 |
| Specific gravity | 1.37 |
| Water absorption (24 hr) | 2.00% |
| Flammability | UL 94HB |
| Max. operating temperature | 255 °F (125 °C) |
Wall construction means radial compressive properties may differ from flat-sheet values; consult engineering data for high-load sleeve designs.
Typical Applications
- Insulating sleeves and conduit liners — CE phenolic tube slides over conductors and bus bars to provide dielectric separation in switchgear and panel assemblies
- Bearing housings and journal sleeves — Low-friction phenolic surface and moderate compressive strength support light-duty sliding and rotating fits
- Structural spacer tubes — Pre-cut tube lengths maintain precise stack heights in transformer and relay assemblies without secondary machining
- Coil bobbins and winding forms — Hollow cylindrical form with consistent wall thickness supports wire coil winding in low-voltage transformers
- Mechanical guard tubes — CE tube protects and insulates threaded rod or shaft elements in electrical enclosures
- Military and industrial conduit inserts — Meets MIL-I-24768/14 Type FBG compliance referenced in NEMA CE for naval and defense electrical systems
Machining CE Phenolic Tube
CE phenolic tube machines on a lathe for OD/ID turning, boring, and facing; carbide tooling at moderate speed and light feed rate prevents delamination at thin walls. Cross-drilling and slotting are practical with standard carbide end mills. Keep wall thickness in mind when applying chuck or collet clamping pressure — protect thin-wall sections with a plug or mandrel. Phenolic dust is abrasive; use dust extraction equipment and respiratory protection during all machining operations.
Related
- CE Phenolic Grade Line Card
- CE Phenolic Rod — solid round stock for turned insulator and bushing blanks
- CE Phenolic Sheet — flat plate for panel insulators and terminal boards
- LE Phenolic Tube — fine-linen electrical grade tube for higher dielectric sleeve applications