Equistar Chemicals, LP

Jeffrey S Borke

Steven W Horwatt

Stephen M Imfeld

Douglas C McFaddin

Harilaos Mavridis

Sameer D Mehta

Jeffrey Charles Haley

Philip J Garrison

Jeffrey A Jones

Lester Y Lee

Mick C Hundley

Marvin R Appel

George A Hattrich

Koksal Tonyali

Jeffrey C Haley

Disclosed is a method for improving the barrier properties of polyethylene films. The method comprises mixing a substantially linear, high density polyethylene with a nucleating agent and converting the mixture into a film. The film made by the method of the invention has at least a 15% improvement on the water vapor barrier property and/or in the oxygen barrier property compared with the control film made from the same substantially linear, high density polyethylene but does not contain the nucleating agent.

Barrier properties of substantially linear HDPE film with nucleating agents

A coated or jacketed wire or cable, and components thereof are disclosed. The coating, jacket, and components, which comprise a polyolefin and a phenolic polymeric antioxidant, exhibit outstanding oxidative thermal stability (as indicated by the increase in the oxidative inductive time (OIT)), when compared to polyolefins containing traditional non-polymeric antioxidants. A greater improvement in the thermal oxidative stability is observed after the polyolefin mixtures have been aged in water-blocking filler(s).

Preparation of wires and cables

Disclosed is a multimodal, high density, homopolyethylene barrier resin. The resin is preferably made by a multistage process. The process comprises a first stage in which ethylene is homopolymerized in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, organoaluminum cocatalyst, alkoxysilane modifier, and hydrogen. The reaction mixture from the first stage is devolatilized to remove all or substantially all of the hydrogen. The polymerization continues in a second stage wherein ethylene is added to the devolatilized reaction mixture to produce the barrier resin. The barrier resin provides films with improved barrier properties.

Preparation of multimodal, high density, ethylene homopolymer barrier resins and films

Moisture curable flame retardant insulation compositions for wire and cable having improved adhesion are provided. The compositions are comprised of an ethylene-silane copolymer, high density polyethylene resin, halogenated flame retardant, silanol condensation catalyst and stabilizer combination consisting of a zinc mercaptobenzimidazole and aromatic secondary amine.

Flame retardant insulation compositions having improved abrasion resistance

Moisture curable flame retardant wire and cable formulations having improved abrasion resistance are provided. The compositions are comprised of a high density silane-containing polyethylene base resin which can be a blend of a bimodal HDPE and ethylene-silane copolymer or silane-grafted bimodal HDPE in combination with a flame retardant and silanol condensation catalyst.

Crosslinkable flame retardant wire and cable compositions having improved abrasion resistance

An electrical conductive assembly including an electrical conductor and an annular laminate insulator surrounding the electrical conductor. The annular laminate insulator includes an inner ply of a first polymeric composition and an outer ply of a second polymeric composition wherein the outer ply second polymeric composition has a hardness in excess of the inner ply first polymeric composition and wherein the abrasion resistance of the laminate is in excess of the combined individual abrasion resistance of the inner ply and outer plies. The annular laminate is flame retardant and stabilized against thermal oxidation by the inclusion of a flame retardant and a thermal antioxidant. The polymers of the first and second polymeric compositions are thermosetting resins, crystalline thermoplastics having a melting point of at least about 130&deg; C. or amorphous thermoplastics having a glass transition temperature of at least about 130&deg; C.

Electrical conductive assembly

Improved flame retardant compositions suitable for insulating wire and cable products comprised of ethylene-alkoxy silane copolymer, halogenated organic compound, antimony trioxide, silane condensation catalyst and magnesium hydroxide are provided. Additionally, antioxidant(s), other mineral fillers and other conventional compounding ingredients may be included in the formulations. The compositions have good processability and are capable of being cured under ambient conditions to provide products which meet all of the specifications of SAE J-1128 for thin wall crosslinked polyolefin low tension primary cable insulation. Wire and cable products comprising a metal conductor coated with from 2 to 100 mils of the flame retardant insulation are also disclosed.

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Middletown, OH, United States of America

Jeffrey S Borke