EP0410431A1 — Tree resistant compositions

Claim 1

Independent Claim 234 words

A water tree resistant insulation composition comprising: (a) an ethylene copolymer having a density of not greater than about 0.920 gram per cubic centimeter produced by polymerizing a mixture of ethylene and 4-methyl-1-pentene and, optionally, one or more other alpha-olefin comonomers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst; or (b) an ethylene copolymer having a density of not greater than about 0.920 gram per cubic centimeter, produced by polymerizing a mixture of ethylene and 1-octene and, optionally, one or more other alpha-olefin comonomers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst; or (c) an ethylene copolymer according to paragraphs (a) or (b) grafted with a hydrolyzable vinyl silane compound, wherein said polymerization catalyst is comprised of (A) magnesium, titanium, halogen, and an electron donor together with one or more aluminum containing compounds; or (B) vanadium, halogen, and an electron donor together with one or more aluminum containing compounds and, optionally, a lower haloalkane compound, said composition, optionally, blended with one or more of: (i) polyethylene having a density in the range of 0.91 to 0.93 gram per cubic centimeter; (ii) copolymers and terpolymers of ethylene wherein at least one comonomer is a higher alpha-olefin, a vinyl acid, a vinyl acid ester, or a vinyl ester of an organic acid; (iii) ethylene/propylene rubbers; (iv) ethylene/propylene/diene monomer rubbers; (v) hydrolyzable graft polymers produced by grafting silane to any of (i) to (v); or (vi) ethylene/hydrolyzable silane copolymers.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 234 words

A water tree resistant insulation composition comprising: (a) an ethylene copolymer having a density of not greater than about 0.920 gram per cubic centimeter produced by polymerizing a mixture of ethylene and 4-methyl-1-pentene and, optionally, one or more other alpha-olefin comonomers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst; or (b) an ethylene copolymer having a density of not greater than about 0.920 gram per cubic centimeter, produced by polymerizing a mixture of ethylene and 1-octene and, optionally, one or more other alpha-olefin comonomers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst; or (c) an ethylene copolymer according to paragraphs (a) or (b) grafted with a hydrolyzable vinyl silane compound, wherein said polymerization catalyst is comprised of (A) magnesium, titanium, halogen, and an electron donor together with one or more aluminum containing compounds; or (B) vanadium, halogen, and an electron donor together with one or more aluminum containing compounds and, optionally, a lower haloalkane compound, said composition, optionally, blended with one or more of: (i) polyethylene having a density in the range of 0.91 to 0.93 gram per cubic centimeter; (ii) copolymers and terpolymers of ethylene wherein at least one comonomer is a higher alpha-olefin, a vinyl acid, a vinyl acid ester, or a vinyl ester of an organic acid; (iii) ethylene/propylene rubbers; (iv) ethylene/propylene/diene monomer rubbers; (v) hydrolyzable graft polymers produced by grafting silane to any of (i) to (v); or (vi) ethylene/hydrolyzable silane copolymers.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The composition defined in claim 1, paragraphs (a) or (b), additionally containing a monomeric unsaturated silane containing at least one hydrolyzable group and a free radical generator.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The composition defined in at least one or more of the claims 1-2 wherein the copolymers are produced in the gas phase, e.g. in one or more fluidized beds.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 142 words

A water tree resistant composition comprising: (a) a copolymer of at least the two comonomers, ethylene and 4-methyl-1-pentene, said copolymer having a density no greater than about 0.920 gram per cubic centimeter; or (b) a copolymer of at least the two comonomers, ethylene and 1-octene, said copolymer having a density no greater than about 1.920 gram per cubic centimeter; or (c) the copolymer of (a) or (b) grafted with a hydrolyzable vinyl silane, the copolymers of (a) and (b) being produced by contacting the relevant comonomers, under polymerization conditions, with (i) a catalyst system containing a catalyst precursor comprising magnesium, titanium, a halogen, and an electron donor, and a hydrocarbyl aluminum cocatalyst or (ii) a catalyst system containing a catalyst precursor comprising vanadium, an electron donor, and a hydrocarbyl aluminum halide; a hydrocarbyl aluminum cocatalyst; and a halogen substituted lower alkane promoter.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 142 words

A water tree resistant composition comprising: (a) a copolymer of at least the two comonomers, ethylene and 4-methyl-1-pentene, said copolymer having a density no greater than about 0.920 gram per cubic centimeter; or (b) a copolymer of at least the two comonomers, ethylene and 1-octene, said copolymer having a density no greater than about 1.920 gram per cubic centimeter; or (c) the copolymer of (a) or (b) grafted with a hydrolyzable vinyl silane, the copolymers of (a) and (b) being produced by contacting the relevant comonomers, under polymerization conditions, with (i) a catalyst system containing a catalyst precursor comprising magnesium, titanium, a halogen, and an electron donor, and a hydrocarbyl aluminum cocatalyst or (ii) a catalyst system containing a catalyst precursor comprising vanadium, an electron donor, and a hydrocarbyl aluminum halide; a hydrocarbyl aluminum cocatalyst; and a halogen substituted lower alkane promoter.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 11 words

The composition defined in claim 4 wherein the copolymers are cross-linked.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The composition defined in at least one of the claims 4-5 wherein the density is no less than about 0.88 gram per cubic centimeter.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The composition defined in at least one of the claims 4-6 wherein the portion of the copolymer attributed to 4-methyl-1-pentene or 1-octene is in the range of about 5 to about 50 percent by weight based on the weight of the copolymer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 111 words

The composition defined in at least one of the claims 4-7 blended with a polymer of (i) polyethylene having a density in the range of 0.91 to 0.93 gram per cubic centimeter; (ii) ethylene copolymers wherein at least one comonomer is a vinyl acid, a vinyl acid ester, or a vinyl ester of an organic acid; (iii) ethylene terpolymers based on at least two comonomers referred to in items (ii) and (viii); (iv) ethylene terpolymers based on alpha-olefins having 3 to 8 carbon atoms; (v) ethylene/propylene rubbers; (vi) ethylene/propylene/diene monomer rubbers; (vii) hydrolyzable graft polymers produced by grafting silane to any of items (i) to (vi); or (viii) ethylene/hydrolyzable silane copolymers.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 64 words

The composition defined in at least one of the claims 4-8 wherein the copolymer is based on at least one additional comonomer, said comonomer being an alpha-olefin having 3 to 12 carbon atoms or a diene having 5 to 25 carbon atoms, the portion of the copolymer based on the additional comonomer being no greater than about 15 percent by weight of the copolymer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The composition defined in at least one of the claims 4-9 wherein the copolymers are produced in the gas phase, e.g. in one or more fluidized beds.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

An electrical conductor coated with, or having extruded thereon, a cross-linked composition as defined in at least one of the claims 1-3.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

A cable comprising a metal core conductor and at least one layer surrounding the core comprising the composition defined in at least one of the claims 5-10.

Tree resistant compositions

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag