Wire and cable compounds | applications feature
Peter Mapleston looks at the latest developments in polymer additives and compounds for demanding wire and cable applications
Making connections: advances in wire and cable compounds
Polymer and additive suppliers continue to make progress in creating new formulations for wire and cable applications with improved processability, mechanical properties and fl ame resistance. Develop- ments are aimed at various sectors, above and below ground, and sometimes deep under the ocean in some of the harshest conditions imaginable. Here is a review of some of the most recent activity.
Handling high voltages A few months ago, Borealis and Borouge (its joint venture with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) intro- duced Borlink LS4258DCE, describing it as a “true step-change” high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) technology that was developed in partnership with power and automation specialist ABB. Borealis says the development will support the further integration of renewable energies into the grid, as well as the establishment of more interconnections among countries in major infrastructure projects. Borlink LS4258DCE is an unfi lled cross-linked
polyethylene (XLPE) compound based on Supercure enhanced base resin technology. “The compound is designed to provide higher cable production effi ciency in terms of a shortened cable production cycle, enabled by a signifi cant reduction of degassing burden and improved scorch performance,” Borealis says. HVDC power transmission supports long-distance
electricity transport without signifi cant losses. “The industry trend is clearly moving towards an increased need for higher capacity transmission at high voltage levels,” Borealis says. Borlink LS4258DCE, together with Borlink LE0550DC, which is a HVCG semiconduct- ing layer material, is said to enable the use of extruded cable technology at signifi cantly higher voltage and transmission levels in instances where paper insulated
www.compoundingworld.com May 2015 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 21
cables are traditionally used. Successful type test qualifi cation
of an extruded cable system according to the Cigré recommendation 496 has been achieved at 525 kV based on Borlink LS4258DCE and Borlink LE0550DC. The compound provides a high level of both chemical and physical cleanliness. Borealis says Borlink LS4258DCE will provide cable
makers with step-change technical benefi ts as well as more effi cient and more streamlined means of production. It says the new grade enables the use of extruded cable technology to produce extra-high-volt- age cables necessary for increased and more effi cient transmission capacity. “This allows transmission over longer distances and grid integration of remote renewable energy generation,” the company claims. It adds that enabling larger amounts of power from
renewable energy sources to be delivered to the grid – for example from remote offshore wind farms – will help drive energy change. The technology also makes it possible for countries to trade energy by way of
ABB and Borealis have
collaborated on HVDC cables based on Borlink
LS4258DCE and LE0550DC grades
ABB’s 525 kV
extruded HVDC cable has
passed tests
according to the Cigré recom- mendation 496
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