November/December

Color masterbatch producer reduces
granule size tenfold to improve dilution of the masterbatch in the cable compound

For many years, PVDF polymers have been used in high-performance cable applications including plenum communication cables, automotive cables, aviation and military cables and appliance wiring. The selection of PVDF polymers is largely due to a unique combination of properties, including flame and smoke resistance, abrasion resistance, high flexibility, chemical resistance, outdoor weathering resistance and the ability to be e-beam crosslinked. The wide range of useful properties provided by PVDF polymers helps make them a valuable tool for resolving unique problems under challenging applications. PVDF polymers available include both homopolymers and copolymers.

Black polyethylene jacket compounds are widely used in the wire and cable industry for telecommunication and power cable applications. However, these filled polyethylene compounds are susceptible to die build-up during the extrusion process. Die build-up (DBU) refers to the unwanted accumulation of material on the open face of the extrusion die, which can lead to die streaking on the surface of the extruded product as well as additional time and cost to shut down the line and clean the tooling. Excessive die build-up negatively impacts the aesthetic quality and properties of the final product, posing a challenge for the wire and cable as well as the plastic industry.

Auto-oxidation reactions in plastics are initiated and accelerated not only by heat, light and mechanical stress, but also by contact with metals. Applications that come into contact with metal include polyolefin insulations for wire coatings, automobile parts and pipes as well as, elastomeric compounds for coatings and insulation. Metal deactivators are used as polymer additives to control the metal-catalyzed oxidation of these hydrocarbon materials, thereby improving the stability of these polymers, including their long-term stability in these applications.