WCA July 2010

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machinery & materials
Wire & Cable ASIA – July/August 2010 47
Advances in greener insulation
Dow Wire & Cable has announced a step in sustainable chemistry by launching Dow Ecolibrium™ bio-based plasticisers,
a new family of phthalate-free plasticisers for use in wire insulation and jacketing, made from nearly 100% renewable
feedstocks. The use of Dow Ecolibrium plasticisers in PVC compounds for wire applications can help cable-makers
and original equipment manufacturers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40% if used instead of traditional
PVC plasticisers. The new plasticisers were developed to meet growing demand for more sustainable options in wiring
applications such as personal electronics and appliance wiring, residential and commercial building wiring, communications
and data cabling, and automotive wiring.
“We are very excited about the commercial launch of Dow Ecolibrium bio-based plasticizers and our ability to help
cable-makers use sustainable technology to differentiate their offerings in key industries,” said Jonathan Penrice, global
marketing director for Dow Wire & Cable. “Our excitement stems from the use of nearly 100% renewable feedstock in the
chemistry of these products and from the outcome of field trials conducted with a select group of customers. The field trials
demonstrated that the new plasticizers exhibit the same performance and feel as incumbent PVC plasticizers while meeting
all regulatory requirements for flame resistance.” Penrice added: “Dow Ecolibrium plasticizers are truly a breakthrough
for the wire and cable industry but their introduction here is just the tip of the iceberg – in time they will also open up
differentiation opportunities for OEMs in other industries that use PVC compounds.”
Dow Wire & Cable will license select cable makers to commercialise Dow Ecolibrium plasticisers consistent with its
Dow Inside programme. Cable manufacturers in the Dow Inside programme are supported by Dow Wire & Cable’s
forward-thinking technology, versatile products and enhanced services, backed by the strength of a creative and responsive
supplier that can help offer a competitive edge in a demanding industry. Dow Ecolibrium also offers specific benefits in
terms of processing, electrical and temperature performance, and end-use for low and high temperature wiring applications
in several key wire and cable market segments:
Wires jacketed with material that includes Dow Ecolibrium can achieve an improved balance of flame retardance, •
flexibility and heat performance. In wiring for personal electronics the use of Dow Ecolibrium can deliver on global OEM
requirements for heat deformation resistance, flexibility and electrical performance
Dow Ecolibrium plasticisers are phthalate-and lead-free, offering safe building wire options for end-users. The new •
products are also effective in data communications delivery applications
Wires jacketed with Dow Ecolibrium and used for the transmission of power and data inside passenger and commercial •
vehicles can provide an environment-friendly solution that exhibits requirements for heat resistance and ease of
installation
Dow Wire & Cable – Switzerland Website:
Crosslinking polymers for insulation
Ionizing energy, as provided by an accelerated electron beam (EB), is an efficient means of crosslinking polymers used
for wire and cable jacketing. In this process, chemical bonds are formed between polymer molecules chains to produce
a three-dimensional insoluble network.
This can be done without heat. In
most instances, ionization causes the
abstraction of an atom of hydrogen from
a polymer to produce active sites along
a polymer chain that can bind to similar
sites on adjacent chains without the use
of crosslinking agents.
IBA recently developed a new solution
for electron beam cross- linking, called
Easy-e-Beam™. Easy-e-Beam is based
on the Dynamitron® accelerator.
The solution is self-shielded, allowing
easy installation into an existing facility.
Easy-e-Beam integrates the E-beam
accelerator and the wire handling
system, both managed by a single
PLC-based control system.
Wires and cables wound on reels are fed into the Easy-e-Beam and, after electron beam treatment, are rewound onto
take-up reels. Easy-e-Beam can handle cross-sections up to 30mm² (60kcmil) and, for small wires, reach a line speed of up
to 1,000m per minute.
IBA can also provide complete and fully integrated crosslinking lines, including payoff, take-up and quality control
equipment.
IBA Industrial – Belgium Fax: +32 1047 5992 Website:
IBA’s Easy-e-Beam, integrated crosslinking solution ❍ ❍