Pirelli Cables and Systems LLC

Pirelli Cable Corporation

Prysmian Communications Cables and Systems Usa, LLC

Curley, James R.

Foulger, Stephen H.

Stephen H Foulger

Jeffrey M Quinn

Thierry T Trial

James R Curley

A conducting polymer composite that is crosslinked comprising a semicrystalline polymer minor phase with conducting filler material dispersed therein in an amount sufficient to generate a continuous conductive network in the minor phase, and which is mixed with major phase polymers, the materials being selected such that the minor phase and major phases will not engage in electrostatic interactions that promote miscibility. The minor phase being dispersed in the major phase in an amount sufficient to generate a continuous conductive network in the composite material. The composite material is crosslinked by physical or chemical means. The crosslinked conducting polymer composite having a reduced amount of conducting filler while supporting a continuous conductive network in the crosslinked polymer composite.

Crosslinked conducting polymer composite materials and method of making same

A semiconductive jacket material for jacketing a cable comprising a minor phase material which is a semicrystalline polymer; a conductive filler material dispersed in the minor phase material in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than an amount required to generate a continuous conductive network in the minor phase material; and a major phase material which is a polymer which when mixed with the minor phase material will not engage in electrostatic interactions that promote miscibility. The major phase material has the minor phase material dispersed therein in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than an amount required to generate a continuous conductive network in the major phase material, forming a semiconductive jacket material of a ternary composite having distinct co-continuous phases.

Semiconductive jacket for cable and cable jacketed therewith

A conductive polymer composite material for semiconductive jackets for cables which has a significant reduction in conductive filler content while maintaining the required conductivity and mechanical properties specified by industry. Materials and processing approaches are selected to reduce the percolation threshold of the conductive filler in the composite, while balancing the material selection with the industry-required mechanical properties of the semiconductive jacket. The semiconductive jacket material comprises a minor phase material which is a semicrystalline polymer; a conductive filler material dispersed in the minor phase material in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than an amount required to generate a continuous conductive network in the minor phase material; and a major phase material which is a polymer which when mixed with the minor phase material will not engage in electrostatic interactions that promote miscibility. The major phase material has the minor phase material dispersed therein in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than an amount required to generate a continuous conductive network in the major phase material, forming a semiconductive jacket material of a ternary composite having distinct co-continuous phases.

A strand filling compound for electrical cables, and cables including such a compound, which prevents migration of water lengthwise of the stranded wires of the conductor of the cable. The strand filling compound has a low conductive filler content without reducing the level of conductivity of the compound and is readily pumpable at temperatures above about 100&deg; C. The strand filling compound is provided by employing an immiscible polymer blend containing conductive filler located primarily in one phase, the immiscible polymer blend being comprised of a low molecular weight polymer and a second polymer, preferably an adhesive EVA. Preferably an adhesive extender which is miscible with the low molecular weight polymer, and fine particles of a material admixed with the filling compound and/or provided as a thin layer of fine particles of a material applied over the filling compound which swells when it absorbs water are also included in the filling compound.

Stranded conductor filling compound and cables using same

An electrochemical sensor which is tailored for sensitivity to specific chemical analytes by selecting proper constituents. The electrochemical sensor is comprised of an immiscible polymer blend of at least two polymers in which a conductive filler is dispersed in one of the polymers of the blend through a multiple percolation approach to compounding. When in the presence of a chemical analyte which is in either a liquid or vapor phase, one phase of the dual immiscible polymer blend swells, effecting a decrease in the conductivity, or increase in resistivity, of the polymer blend. The electrochemical sensor is reversible in that when the chemical analyte evaporates or is removed, the polymer blend returns to its original conductivity. With the multiple percolation approach it is possible to make a single composite material identifiably sensitive to various chemical analytes by incorporating several major phase materials into the immiscible polymer blend, each having an affinity for swelling for a different analyte. Further, the multiple percolation approach allows sensors to be made at extremely low cost.

Electrochemical sensors made from conductive polymer composite materials and methods of making same

An optical fiber or electrical power cable with at least one electrochemical chemical analyte sensor which includes a conductive polymer which extends longitudinally along the length of the cable. The polymer has electrical properties which undergo a reversible change when in contact with a chemical analyte. The conductive polymer can be a conductive polymer composite including an immiscible polymer blend of at least two polymers and a conductive filler which is dispersed in one of the polymers of the blend through a multiple percolation process. The cable has a jacket and the sensor(s) are disposed outside the core in proximity to an inner or outer surface of the jacket, or as part of the jacket, and not energy coupled to any energy converging media in the cable, so that the presence of analytes in contact with the cable can be detected, the location along the longitudinal length of a cable where the cable is exposed to the analytes can be determined, penetration of the analytes into the cable occurs can be detected, whether damage has been caused to the cable by the analytes or otherwise can be determined and the identity of an analyte which is in contact with the cable can be determined.

Energy cable with electrochemical chemical analyte sensor

A conductive polymer composite material comprises: a minor phase material comprising a semicrystalline polymer; a conductive filler material dispersed in said minor phase material in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than an amount required to generate a continuous conductive network in said minor phase material; and a major phase material, said major phase material being a polymer which when mixed with said minor phase material will not engage in electrostatic interactions that promote miscibility, said major phase material having said minor phase material dispersed therein in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than an amount required to generate a continuous conductive network in said major phase material, forming a (semi)conductive ternary composite having distinct co-continuous phases.

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Lexington, SC, United States of America

Stephen H Foulger