Development of high performance low smoke zero halogen moisture curable cross linked jacket compounds with attractive processability features

摘要

This paper describes the development of moisture curable Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) jacket systems suitable for a wide range of cable jacketing challenges. Almost 40 years of development history is briefly reviewed and then recent breakthroughs in materials technology are presented which fully realize the original promise of moisture cure technology against modern requirements. The overall development concept is outlined and data is presented on small samples which showed that a promising balance of mechanical, physical, low temperature and fluid resistance characteristics could be achieved. Selected experimental systems were scaled up on industrial plant and extruded on a variety of cable lay-ups. Data is presented on the full set of cable test data demonstrating a route to balance physical, mechanical, low temperature and fluid resistance properties. Finally, full scale fire performance test data is presented. As LSZH cable types are deployed more widely in North America, this development should provide a solid platform for both new cable designs and future compound development.