feature | Wire and cable
Right: Ultra- Carb flame
retardant fillers from LKAB Minerals are widely used in wire and cable applications
Teknor Apex has introduced a new halogen-free
power cable applications. “Direct Current (DC) cable technology is commonly preferred over Alternating Current (AC) to deliver large amounts of electricity over longer distances because of its lower losses, making it of particular interest to connect offshore windfarms to land, undergrounding of transmission networks and intercon- nectors between different countries,” says Verheule. “Borealis introduced the first generation of High
Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cable compounds in 1998 and over the years the transmission voltage has in- creased from 80kV to 320kV, which is the level currently in service. The latest generation of Borlink cable insulation compounds for HVDC applications have passed type tests at 525kV, which set a new record for extruded HVDC cables. Since the launch, cable system qualifications have been obtained by different cable makers, making it more widely available to fulfil the growing demand for these type of high capacity cables,” he says. To meet increased demand for these high perfor-
mance cable compounds, a new high pressure LDPE plant and XLPE compounding facility has been con- structed at the Borouge 3 expansion project now nearing completion in Abu Dhabi. Starting this year, wire and cable grades – including Borlink medium voltage and Visico low voltage grades - will be produced at the plant, which is part of the world’s largest integrated polyolefins complex. Once all plants have been fully ramped up, Borouge will have an annual production capacity of 4.5m tonnes. Borealis has also announced a €3.5 million invest- ment in its Electrical Testing Laboratory at its Innova- tion Centre in Stenungsund, Sweden. The company says the investment will enhance existing electrical compe- tence and expertise in project execution, and encourage cooperation with customers and external partners. The investment will increase the capability of electrical testing of cables produced at its own cable extrusion facility, opened in 2009. It will enable Borealis to simulate AC and DC performance of model medium voltage cables and expand development capabilities.
56 COMPOUNDING WORLD | May 2016
flame retardant (HFFR) compound for fibre optic cable that is claimed to provide good flame retardance while exhibiting significantly lower post-extrusion shrinkage than similar compounds with comparable flame properties. The company says that Halguard 58625 has a UL-94 flammability rating of V-0 and an oxygen index of 50%, while exhibiting post-extrusion linear shrinkage of only 2%. The new product is an addition to the Halguard family of compounds providing an economical alternative to premium grades because of their flame retardant formulation. Applications for Halguard 58625 include cables used in mass transit, data centres, cell towers and other infrastructure projects. For outdoor uses, the new product exhibits good sunlight resistance when tested per UL-1581. According to the company, low shrinkage is particu-
larly desirable in fibre optic applications because it reduces the degree of stress imposed on the sensitive optical fibres during post-extrusion temperature cycling and during end use. A low-shrinkage grade introduced in 2015, Halguard 58620, exhibits a Shore D hardness of 54 and shrinkage of 1.3%, with a UL-94 flammability rating of V-1 and oxygen index of 40.0%. “Halguard 58625 compound costs less than comparable premium materials while exhibiting little compromise in perfor- mance properties,” says David Braun, Wire and Cable Industry Manager for the Vinyl Division at Teknor Apex. “It is the newest member of a series of HFFR com- pounds developed to meet a range of customer needs while providing lower-cost alternatives to other Halguard and competing HFFR products in general- purpose applications.” Meanwhile, Melos has developed a new bedding
compound - FM 0474/5 - with improved fire behaviour properties. The company says that cone calorimeter tests at 50 kW/m² showed a total heat release of 35.2 MJ/m² and a time to ignition of 378 seconds. Further burning tests showed a limiting oxygen index of 63% and a temperature index of greater than 330°C.
Mineral matters Wire and cable applications continue to present growth opportunities in the minerals sector, according to Ian Yates, Business Development Manager, UltraCarb for LKAB Minerals. This is particularly the case in the area of flame retardant compounds. “This market is defined by the standards that need to be fulfilled in each geographical region,” he says. “Whether the focus is more towards the initial reaction to fire, flame spread or smoke generation, one common theme amongst customers is lowering the cost of these compounds. In addition, UltraCarb responds to the need for environ-
www.compoundingworld.com
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