WIRE & CABLE | MATERIALS
with improved performance characteristics. Additive company Baerlocher has introduced
Baerolub AID polymer processing aids (PPAs) to help customers smoothly transition from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Baerlocher’s new PPA for blown film, pipe, and wire-and-cable, are free of PFAS and siloxanes, are cost-competi- tive with existing and new PPA solutions, and compatible with other additives. The company says the PPAs deliver rapid melt fracture clearing for metallocene and Ziegler Natta LLDPE and high- density polyethylene (HDPE), equalling or surpass- ing clearing times of traditional PPAs containing PFAS. Because these new PPAs are soluble in the polymer matrix, they provide better haze perfor- mance and excellent control of frost line height. “Current and evolving European Union and US
Federal and state regulations are forcing the plastic industry to look for new alternatives to PFAS-based processing aids,” said Chad Harlan, Strategic Business Unit Head, Baerlocher. “To meet this need, Baerlocher developed Baerolub AID PPAs featuring proprietary, PFAS-free chemistry, a breakthrough that has propelled us into a leading position in the PPA space.”
Future world According to LeeAnn Chen, Strategic Marketing Director at Orbia’s Polymer Solutions business Alphagary, adhering to regulatory requirements, particularly in the realm of environmental standards and product safety, are crucial considerations in the wire and cable sector. She said, “Compliance with evolving regulations ensures product quality, safety, and environmental sustainability, which are increas- ingly prioritised by both regulators and consumers.” Increasing demand for data, video, and energy
transmission is expected to continue driving growth, given the current proliferation of smart devices, cameras, and high-definition TVs. The advent of new category cables designed to
accommodate these diverse needs will likely gain traction as consumers and industries seek efficient, high-speed connectivity solutions. Chen also pointed to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) as being key in this rapidly expand- ing sector. “As AI grows and becomes embedded in all aspects of our lives, we see increased de- mand for innovative materials that bring power and now data in both indoor and outdoor environ- ments. Industrial environments have always required electrical cables that are flexible and robust [but] with AI, we see demand for cables that bring data as well as power (such as Power over Ethernet – PoE cables requiring increased high temperature performance) into industrial environ- ments for robotic and computer-controlled processes. Cables transmitting data are required to have the same robust attributes as electrical cables, as well as having excellent data transfer perfor- mance (speed and bandwidth).”
Another aspect destined to have a significant influence on the sector is renewable energy. “As our world moves toward more sustainable options and an upsurge in electrification, we are seeing increased demand for innovative materials in cables for renewable energy sources such wind
Above: Keeping the lights on: growing cities have growing power needs
IMAGE: BOREALIS
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