TECHNOLOGY | WIRE AND CABLE
Right: Hexpol TPE is targeting power and telecom markets with its Dryflex Cable product line
sorted and ground for use as a filler in other PE and PP compounds. Power cable supplier NKT, for example, recently introduced recycled XLPE in the production of its cable drums. Power and telecom cable sheathing is the intended target for a new range of thermoplastic elastomers from Hexpol TPE. The range, which is marketed under the Dryflex Cable brand, includes grades based on several polymer chemistries, including EVA, TPE and TPV technologies. The company says that this brings one of the widest ranges of properties and customisation possibili- ties to the market and gives cable manufacturers the flexibility to select the optimal solution for their application. The Dryflex Cable range includes Low Smoke Halogen Free (LSHF) and Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) flame retardant compounds. The com- pounds are RoHS, SVHC and REACH compliant and halogen-free according to IEC 60754 Part 1/2. The line-up includes Dryflex Cable 52180 N for low voltage power or data cable applications and 51898 N for demanding applications requiring increased thermal and fluid resistance. All of the new compounds can be processed using standard extrusion equipment and are supplied ready to use. No post vulcanisation is required and any production waste can be reprocessed. Typical LOI values are in the range 28-42%. The Estane ZHF line from Lubrizol Engineered
Polymers are halogen-free thermoplastic polyure- thane (TPU) grades for cable applications that feature low toxicity, low smoke and low gas conductivity. The company says that the versatility of Estane ZHF polymers expands the scope of applications that the new grades can be used in to include thin or coloured cables.
Right: Teknor Apex sees 5G wireless infrastructure driving new demand for cables, particularly in the antenna area
The new range includes Estane ZHF 90AT8 NAT
02, which is claimed to be ideal for robotic and communication cables, while Estane ZHF 58202 NAT 02 is said to offer easy processing and low gas conductivity combined with good flame-retardant performance. Estane ZHF 58370 NAT 01 also has easy processability and extremely low gas conduc- tivity in compliance with the IEC 62893 and EN 50620 standards for the charging cables of electric vehicles (EVs). Estane ZHF 58211 NAT 01 combines good thermal resistance and processing with flame retardance, while Estane ZHF 85AT8 MATT adds a matt surface finish. “New emerging applications have demanding
material requirements and international cable-relat- ed regulations are also becoming more stringent,” says Fabio Morelli, New Business Development Senior Manager for Lubrizol Engineered Polymers in EMEA. “As an example, some Estane ZHF grades have been designed after a collaborative develop- ment process with key manufacturers of EV charging cables.”
“Wireless” opportunities Despite being a wireless technology, developing 5G communications infrastructure is expected to drive considerable demand for cables. With this in mind, Teknor Apex has developed Apex PVC, Flex- alloy PVC elastomer and Halguard halogen-free low-smoke compounds for every component in the complex antenna cables required for the new system. “With the advent of 5G, the wireless antenna
market is evolving away from large coaxial cables and towards composite constructions incorporat- ing control and fibre optic cables,” says David Braun, wire and cable industry manager for the company’s Vinyl Division. “These new constructions meet the needs of wireless telecom carriers, who are seeking to add new spectrum bands while lowering operating costs.” Compounds from Teknor Apex are pitched at a
48 COMPOUNDING WORLD | May 2020
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: HEXPOL TPE
IMAGE: TEKNOR APEX
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