MTW Wire

MTW (Machine Tool Wire) wire consists of stranded, bare copper conductors insulated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The stranding gives the wire more flexibility for routing in tight spaces such as electrical cabinets and the PVC provides heat and moisture resistance with flame retardant compound per UL 1063 and UL83. MTW wire is rated 600 V for machine tool and appliance wiring applications.
MTW vs MTW/TEW: TEW (Thermoplastic Equipment Wire) wire is made with tinned, stranded copper conductors. MTW wire is made with bare copper conductors. The bare copper is more cost-effective, however, the tinned copper assists in the soldering process during installation and helps prevent corrosion.
MTW vs THHN: THHN (Thermoplastic High Heat-resistant Nylon) consists of a stranded or solid, bare copper or aluminum conductor with a thermoplastic insulation and a nylon jacket. Although both MTW and THHN are well suited for similar applications, THHN wire’s nylon jacket causes it to be less flexible than MTW wire.
Products
Thermoplastic, High Heat resistant, Nylon jacket insulation (THHN) wire is used in conduit or in cable trays due to its rigidity and tough insulation characteristics. THHN can be stranded (several small strands of wire grouped together), allowing for more flexibility and less chance of breakage, or solid (one wire), which is more durable and rigid. THHN wire is suitable for use in dry locations with temperatures that do not exceed 90 degrees Celsius.
Cross-linked polyethylene, High Heat-resistant, Water-resistant (XHHW) wire is very similar to THHN. The difference is that XHHW wire is overall a more durable wire that can withstand higher temperatures and is water resistant. XHHW wire can also be found in both stranded and solid wire options.
Machine Tool Wire (MTW) wire is much more flexible than THHN wire with insulation that is not as durable, making it a poor choice to run through conduit. The flexibility makes it ideal for winding through tight areas, such as wire ducting in an industrial control cabinet. MTW wire is almost exclusively found in stranded wire, which allows for much of the flexibility and reduces the chances of the wire breaking. MTW wire is intended for use in dry locations that do not exceed 90 degrees Celsius or wet locations that do not to exceed 60 degrees Celsius.