Flame retardant ethylene polymer blends

Claim 2

A composition comprising 29 to 50 % by weight of composition of a linear low density polyethylene containing recurring units of an alkene-1 comonomer of 4-12 carbon atoms sufficient to provide a density less than 0.92; 3 to 15% of polypropylene material selected from the class consisting of

Claim 3

a) polypropylene homopolymer, b) nonelastomeric copolymer of propylene and ethylene, and c) melt-compounded blends or grafts of 1) or 2) with an elastomeric ethylene/propylene copolymer; 45-65% of alumina trihydrate; 0.5 to 1.5% of a coupling agent containing a hydrolyzable moiety containing titanium or silicon and also containing an organophilic group; and an antioxidant in an amount that improves heat aging.

Claim 4

a) polypropylene homopolymer, b) nonelastomeric copolymer of propylene and ethylene, and c) melt-compounded blends or grafts of 1) or 2) with an elastomeric ethylene/propylene copolymer; 45-65% of alumina trihydrate; 0.5 to 1.5% of a coupling agent containing a hydrolyzable moiety containing titanium or silicon and also containing an organophilic group; and an antioxidant in an amount that improves heat aging.

Claim 5

An insulating composition comprising 38-45% by weight linear low density polyethylene of density 0.90-0.92 containing 13 to 20 weight % recurring units of octene-1 comonomer; 4-10% of rubber-modified polypropylene; 47-53% of alumina trihydrate; 0.8-1.2% coupling agent containing a hydrolyzable moiety containing titanium or silicon and also containing an organophilic group; and an antioxidant in an amount that improves heat aging.

Claim 6

An insulating composition comprising 38-45% by weight linear low density polyethylene of density 0.90-0.92 containing 13 to 20 weight % recurring units of octene-1 comonomer; 4-10% of rubber-modified polypropylene; 47-53% of alumina trihydrate; 0.8-1.2% coupling agent containing a hydrolyzable moiety containing titanium or silicon and also containing an organophilic group; and an antioxidant in an amount that improves heat aging.

Claim 7

A jacketing composition comprising 29 to 34% by weight linear low density polyethylene of density 0.90-0.92 containing 13 to 20 weight % recurring units of octene-1 comonomer; 3-7% of rubber-modified polypropylene; 59 to 65% of alumina trihydrate; 0.8-1.2% coupling agent containing a hydrolyzable moiety containing titanium or silicon and also containing an organophilic group; and an antioxidant in an amount that improves heat aging.

Claim 8

A jacketing composition comprising 29 to 34% by weight linear low density polyethylene of density 0.90-0.92 containing 13 to 20 weight % recurring units of octene-1 comonomer; 3-7% of rubber-modified polypropylene; 59 to 65% of alumina trihydrate; 0.8-1.2% coupling agent containing a hydrolyzable moiety containing titanium or silicon and also containing an organophilic group; and an antioxidant in an amount that improves heat aging.

Claim 9

A halogen-free insulated primary wire of the composition of Claim 1 or 2 which passes a heat shock test at 150 C for 1 hour, passes a cold bend test at -15°, passes a low temperature impact test at -25 C, has less than 4% shrinkage at 80°C, has a knife deformation of less than 50%, has a limiting oxygen index of greater than 25; and which after removal of the conductor has a tensile strength of greater than 6 MPa, a tensile elongation of greater than 125%, a water absorption of less than 4 mg/cm 2 ; and after removal of the conductor and aging at 100°C for 7 days has a tensile strength of greater than 5 MPa, changed less than 30% from the unaged strength and has a tensile elongation of greater than 100%, changed less than 30 % from the unaged tensile elongation; using the test methods specified herein.

Claim 10

A jacketed bundle of insulated wires in which the jacket is made of the composition of Claim 1 or 3, which bundle passes a heat shock test at 150 C for one hour, passes a cold bend test at -15 C, passes a low temperature impact test at -25 C, has less than 4% shrinkage at 80 C, has a knife deformation of less than 50%, has a limiting oxygen index of greater than 30; and the halogen-free jacket of which after removal from the bundle of wires has a tensile strength of greater than 8 MPa, a tensile elongation of greater than 125%, a water absorption of less than 10 mg/cm 2 ; and after aging at 100°C for 7 days has a tensile strength of greater than 7 MPa, changed less than 30% from the unaged strength and has a tensile elongation of greater than 100%, changed less than 30% from the unaged tensile elongation, using the test methods specified herein.