WIRE AND CABLE | MATERIALS
Decarbonisation, communications and EVs are all contributing to growing demand for wire and cable. Chris Smith explores some of the latest compound developments
New markets underpin cable market growth
The onset of the Covid pandemic in 2020 hit the wire and cable market, like many others, hard. Global volumes were down by more than 5%, with only China managing to hold positive numbers. However, 2021 saw a strong rebound and the outlook for 2022 — admittedly forecast before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — is for global volume growth of 3-4%, according to data presented by Benjamin Ferlay, R&D Director Central Eastern Europe at leading cable maker Prysmian Group, at the AMI Cables 2022 conference in Germany in March. Key drivers in terms of infrastructure cable demand are identified as smart communications and the move to lower carbon power generation. Ferlay said that global volume demand for optical fibre recovered in 2021 and the pick-up is expected to continue into 2022. The main growth drivers include the roll-out of FTTH (Fibre to the Home) networks and the adoption of 5G mobile technology. Turning to power cables, Prysmian identifies the main driver of growth for the coming years as the worldwide acceleration in demand for electricity, which the company forecasts will grow at twice the rate of total world energy demand. Major expan- sion of transmission and distribution networks will be required to meet new and higher demand for
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electricity for transport, heating and industrial applications. Meanwhile, rapid growth in renew- able electricity generation such as wind and power — which Ferlay said are together predicted to account for 60% of power generation by 2050 — will require distribution systems with more flexibil- ity and greater interconnectivity. Alongside volume growth, cable producers continue to seek material solutions that improve performance and optimise cost. Avient, for example, recently introduced a number of new polyolefin compound options intended to enhance chemical resistance, flame retardance and produc- tivity in optical fibre cables. The Eccoh 6151 – 6154 grades are targeted at micromodules and micro- tubes that are used to encapsulate the individual strands of glass optical fibre. They are said to be suitable for dry and gel-filled applications. Compared to polymer materials traditionally used in these applications — such as PA12 and PBT – the company says its new compounds are easier and faster to extrude and are less prone to shrink- age, which can induce mechanical stress that might cause cable kinking and signal attenuation or loss. They are also said to be softer than both PA12 and PBT, which makes it easier to strip the microtubes/
Main image: New wire and cable markets such as EVs and photovoltaics call for new and often more demanding material requirements
May 2022 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 25
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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