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US3959558A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pressureless curing system for chemically cross-linking ethylene-containing polymers and product formed thereby

Assignee: Vulkor Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-18
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Granted: 1976-05-25
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Expires: 1990-12-18
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Abstract

Abstract A curable composition comprising an ethylene-containing polymer, a curing agent, and a mineral filler treated with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, is compounded and fabricated to the desired shape, such as an insulation layer over a conductor. The fabricated product is then passed through a nonaqueous heat transfer medium maintained at atmospheric or ambient pressure and at a temperature sufficient to effect curing in situ of the ethylene-containing polymer. The resulting cured composition is characterized as relatively dense (substantially non-porous) especially suitable for use as insulation for wire and cable.

Inventors

  • 👤 Burton Thornley MacKenzie, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 21:01
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/24; C08J3/247; B; B29; B29C; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/04; B29C35/06; B29C35/065; B29C48/00; B29C48/022; B29C48/03; B29C48/06; B29C48/25; B29C48/88; B29C48/91; C08F; C08F255/00; C08F255/02; B29C48/05; B29K; B29K2101/00; B29K2101/10; B29K2301/00; B29K2301/10; C08J2323/00; C08J2323/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/294

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 148 words
A method of curing a composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer and mineral filler at substantially atmospheric pressure to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured polymeric composition, comprising the steps of: treating a mineral filler with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by admixing said mineral filler with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of said organic compound by weight of the filler, and preparing the composition by admixing ingredients of the composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer, said mineral filler and treating organic compound, and curing agent; and thereafter heating the said admixed composition at about atmospheric pressure in a non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to effect an in situ cross-linking cure of the ethylene containing polymer to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured filled polymer composition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 148 words
A method of curing a composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer and mineral filler at substantially atmospheric pressure to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured polymeric composition, comprising the steps of: treating a mineral filler with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by admixing said mineral filler with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of said organic compound by weight of the filler, and preparing the composition by admixing ingredients of the composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer, said mineral filler and treating organic compound, and curing agent; and thereafter heating the said admixed composition at about atmospheric pressure in a non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to effect an in situ cross-linking cure of the ethylene containing polymer to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured filled polymer composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of curing of claim 1, wherein the mineral filler is pretreated with said organic compound by intimately admixing the organic compound with the filler and then admixing the pretreated filler with the other ingredients of the composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of curing of claim 1, wherein the mineral filler is treated with said organic compound by intimately admixing the mineral filler and the organic compound together with the ethylene containing polymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of curing of claim 1, wherein the ethylene containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of curing of claim 1, wherein the mineral filler content of the ethylene containing polymer is about 25 to 60 per cent by weight of the composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of curing of claim 5, wherein the mineral filler is selected from the group consisting of aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide, calcium silicate, silica, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of curing of claim 6, wherein the mineral filler content of the ethylene containing polymer is about 30 to 50 per cent by weight of the composition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of curing of claim 7, wherein the mineral filler is treated with about 0.5 to 3 per cent by weight of said organic compound.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of curing of claim 5, wherein the curing agent is a tertiary organic peroxide in amount of about 0.5 to 10 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of polymer.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 229 words
A method of curing a composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer with mineral filler at substantially atmospheric pressure to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured polymer composition, comprising the steps of: treating a mineral filler selected from the group consisting of aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, silica, and aluminum oxide, and mixtures thereof, with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by admixing said mineral filler with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of said organic compound by weight of the filler, and admixing ingredients of the composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer with at least about 50 mole per cent ethylene selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof, with about 25 to 60 per cent by weight of the composition of said mineral filler and treating organic compound, and about 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of organic peroxide curing agent per 100 parts by weight of ethylene containing polymer; and thereafter heating the said admixed composition at about atmospheric pressure in a non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to effect an in situ cross-linking cure of the filled, ethylene containing polymer and peroxide curing agent to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured filled polymer composition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 229 words
A method of curing a composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer with mineral filler at substantially atmospheric pressure to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured polymer composition, comprising the steps of: treating a mineral filler selected from the group consisting of aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, silica, and aluminum oxide, and mixtures thereof, with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by admixing said mineral filler with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of said organic compound by weight of the filler, and admixing ingredients of the composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer with at least about 50 mole per cent ethylene selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof, with about 25 to 60 per cent by weight of the composition of said mineral filler and treating organic compound, and about 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of organic peroxide curing agent per 100 parts by weight of ethylene containing polymer; and thereafter heating the said admixed composition at about atmospheric pressure in a non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to effect an in situ cross-linking cure of the filled, ethylene containing polymer and peroxide curing agent to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured filled polymer composition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the organic peroxide is a tertiary organic peroxide.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 167 words
A method of making an electric cable having a cured relatively dense and substantially non-porous insulating composition about a conductor comprising ethylene containing polymer and mineral filler cured at substantially atmospheric pressure, comprising the steps of: treating a mineral filler with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by admixing said mineral filler with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of said organic compound by weight of the filler, and preparing the insulating composition by admixing ingredients of the composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer, said mineral filler and treating organic compound, and curing agent; forming the insulation of admixed composition about a conductor; and thereafter heating the said formed insulation of the admixed composition at about atmospheric pressure in a non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to effect an in situ cross-linking cure of the ethylene containing polymer to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous insulation of filled polymeric composition.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 167 words
A method of making an electric cable having a cured relatively dense and substantially non-porous insulating composition about a conductor comprising ethylene containing polymer and mineral filler cured at substantially atmospheric pressure, comprising the steps of: treating a mineral filler with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by admixing said mineral filler with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of said organic compound by weight of the filler, and preparing the insulating composition by admixing ingredients of the composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer, said mineral filler and treating organic compound, and curing agent; forming the insulation of admixed composition about a conductor; and thereafter heating the said formed insulation of the admixed composition at about atmospheric pressure in a non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to effect an in situ cross-linking cure of the ethylene containing polymer to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous insulation of filled polymeric composition.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 247 words
A method of making an electrical cable having a cured substantially non-porous insulating composition about a conductor comprising ethylene containing polymer and mineral filler cured at substantially atmospheric pressure, comprising the steps of: treating a mineral filler selected from the group consisting of aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide, calcium silicate, silica, magnesium silicate, titanium dioxide, and mixtures thereof, with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by admixing said mineral filler with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of said organic compound by weight of the filler, and preparing the insulating composition by admixing ingredients of the composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer with at least about 50 mole per cent ethylene selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof with about 25 to 60 per cent by weight of the composition of said mineral filler treated with said organic compound and about 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of organic peroxide curing agent per 100 parts by weight of ethylene containing polymer; forming the insulation of admixed composition about a conductor; and thereafter heating the said formed insulation of the admixed composition at about atmospheric pressure in a non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to effect an in situ cross-linking cure of the ethylene-containing polymer to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous insulation of filled polymeric composition.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 247 words
A method of making an electrical cable having a cured substantially non-porous insulating composition about a conductor comprising ethylene containing polymer and mineral filler cured at substantially atmospheric pressure, comprising the steps of: treating a mineral filler selected from the group consisting of aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide, calcium silicate, silica, magnesium silicate, titanium dioxide, and mixtures thereof, with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by admixing said mineral filler with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of said organic compound by weight of the filler, and preparing the insulating composition by admixing ingredients of the composition comprising an ethylene containing polymer with at least about 50 mole per cent ethylene selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof with about 25 to 60 per cent by weight of the composition of said mineral filler treated with said organic compound and about 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of organic peroxide curing agent per 100 parts by weight of ethylene containing polymer; forming the insulation of admixed composition about a conductor; and thereafter heating the said formed insulation of the admixed composition at about atmospheric pressure in a non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to effect an in situ cross-linking cure of the ethylene-containing polymer to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous insulation of filled polymeric composition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 126 words
An electrical cable with a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured insulation composition comprising a conductor and a layer of insulation overlying said conductor, said cured insulation composition comprising the cured product of: (a) an ethylene containing polymer, (b) a curing agent, and (c) a mineral filler treated with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by weight of the filler, and which has been cured by heating at about atmospheric pressure in a non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to cure substantially in situ the ethylene containing polymer to relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured filled polymer insulation composition about the conductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 126 words
An electrical cable with a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured insulation composition comprising a conductor and a layer of insulation overlying said conductor, said cured insulation composition comprising the cured product of: (a) an ethylene containing polymer, (b) a curing agent, and (c) a mineral filler treated with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by weight of the filler, and which has been cured by heating at about atmospheric pressure in a non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to cure substantially in situ the ethylene containing polymer to relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured filled polymer insulation composition about the conductor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 196 words
An electrical cable with a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured insulation composition comprising a conductor and a layer of insulation overlying said conductor, said insulation composition comprising the cured product of: a) an ethylene containing polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; about 25 to 60 per cent by weight of the composition of a mineral filler selected from the group consisting of aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, silica, and aluminum oxide, and mixtures thereof treated with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by weight of the filler; and an organic peroxide curing agent in amount of about 0.5 to 10 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of polymer; and which composition has been cross-link cured by heating at about atmospheric pressure in an non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to cure substantially in situ the ethylene containing polymer to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured filled polymer insulation composition about the conductor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 196 words
An electrical cable with a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured insulation composition comprising a conductor and a layer of insulation overlying said conductor, said insulation composition comprising the cured product of: a) an ethylene containing polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; about 25 to 60 per cent by weight of the composition of a mineral filler selected from the group consisting of aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, silica, and aluminum oxide, and mixtures thereof treated with about 0.15 to 4.0 per cent of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, dimethyl itaconate, and acrylic acid, by weight of the filler; and an organic peroxide curing agent in amount of about 0.5 to 10 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of polymer; and which composition has been cross-link cured by heating at about atmospheric pressure in an non-aqueous heat transfer medium to a temperature and for a dwell time sufficient to cure substantially in situ the ethylene containing polymer to a relatively dense and substantially non-porous cured filled polymer insulation composition about the conductor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2888424A Cited
US2930083A Cited
US3272772A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-05-25 1979-11-24 1980-05-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-05-25 1983-11-24 1984-05-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-05-25 1987-11-24 1988-05-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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