Polywater® G-640 Cable Pulling Lubricant

Clear, Single-Polymer, Gel Lubricant for Underground Installations

Polywater® G offers crews a cable pulling lubricant that can be hand applied when pouring is not possible. Polywater G is a single-polymer lubricant used for underground cable pulling in the telecommunication and electrical utility industries. This non-staining lubricant was widely used 30-40 years ago due to its ease of application, resistance to mold growth, and availability in field-friendly packages.

Polywater’s newer complex-polymer lubricants, such as Polywater J, are better suited for installing copper telecommunication and electrical cables. Polywater J was specially formulated for today’s longer and more difficult pulls, pulling through multiple bends and working in hot environments. Polywater J is also used in vertical conduit runs, as it won’t cold flow down into the box or panel after the cables are installed. If Polywater G is still being used we recommend contacting Polywater for a better solution for cable installation needs.

- Less Mess :    Clean drying, non-staining, and water soluble.

- Applies Easily :    Can be hand applied, pumped, or deployed by the Front End Pack™ Bag System.

- Low Solids :     Will not cement-in cables.

- Evaporates After Use :   Nothing to soil hands or pollute environment.

- Temperature stable :  Will not separate when frozen or kept in hot environments.

Specifications:

1. Lubricity :   PVC- or LDPE-jacketed cable on PVC conduit at 200 lbs/ft normal pressure; coefficient of dynamic friction <.20. 

2. Temperature stability :   No more than a 10% change in Brookfield viscosity from 5°C to 38°C (40°F to 100°F). No phase-out after five freeze/thaw cycles or 24-hour exposure at 49°C (120°F). 

3. Appearance :   Thick, clear, colorless, gel material. 

4. pH :   6.4 to 7.2 

5. Wax, grease, and silicone content :   None 

6. Cable compatibility :  Passes IEEE 1210 physical and electrical testing on a wide variety of cable materials. 

7. Temperature Use Range :   -5°C to 33°C (20°F to 90°F). 

8. Percent non-volatile solids : 0.5 to 1.5% 

9. Polyethylene stress cracking :  No stress cracking on LDPE cable jacket when tested by ASTM D1693. 

10. Toxicity :     Non-toxic and non-sensitizing. Industrial use only. 

11. Flammability :  Lubricant has no flash point and dried residue is non-flammable. 

12. Clean up :   Complete cleanup possible with water.