WCA January 2015

16 / 68

14 Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2015
Industrynews
HUNTSMAN has developed two UV protected
grades of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs)
for use in offshore, oil and gas, and mining wire
and cable applications.
The polyether-based TPU materials – part of
Huntsman’s established Irogran ® product range
– are designed for jacketing the cables of
heavy duty pieces of equipment, which have to
function in harsh, abrasive and outdoor
environments, and are exposed to the
elements.
Over time, exposure to ultraviolet light can
cause cabling materials to degrade, losing
performance in tensile strength, abrasion and
elongation.
On oil rigs, offshore wind farms and in
underground applications, any form of
deterioration in cable quality is unacceptable
and could have costly consequences.
Huntsman’s latest wire and cable innovations
were developed in response to requests from
customers in the Americas, who were asking for
increasingly demanding performance levels
from their cable jacketing materials.
Easily processed and offering a wide
temperature window, Huntsman’s new Irogran
materials contain a UV package that is not listed
as a substance of very high concern (SVHC)
under REACH regulations.
Designed to increase cable longevity, the
inclusion of this additive is beneficial for wire
and cable manufacturers who are looking to
improve performance and comply with stringent
environmental standards.
Ahead of the launch of its new products,
Huntsman has tested the performance of the
materials extensively, with both grades
surpassing industry standard UV tests. The two
grades available are:
• Irogran® A 85 P 4394 UV DP, which has a
hardness of 85 Shore A
• Irogran® A 92 P 4637 UV DP, which has a
hardness of 92 Shore A
Both grades are entering final launch stage and
will be available globally.
Rhona Watson, development centre manager
Americas at Huntsman, said: “Creating new UV
protected cable jacketing grades for industrial
applications, using a specialised UV package,
demonstrates that Huntsman is a provider of
innovative wire and cable solutions.”
Huntsman Corporation – USA
Website:
New cables for offshore and mining
❍ Huntsman has launched two new UV protected grades of thermoplastic polyurethanes, one of which is for
use in mining
Kent Wire
back in
action
Following a fire in
May 2014 that
damaged its
production facility
in Chatham Docks,
Kent, UK,
ArcelorMittal Kent
Wire has reported
that its production
line is now fully
reinstated.
The fire-damaged
production line has
been upgraded to
enable Kent Wire to
produce in excess
of 130,000 tonnes
of fabric
reinforcement per
annum.
Phil Taylor, CEO,
said: “Following
this incident, the
damaged fabric
reinforcement line
has been fully
restored and
upgraded, and the
business is once
again fully
operational. We
would like to
apologise to our
customers for any
inconvenience
caused over the
last six weeks of
interruption and
look forward to
supporting
businesses once
again with high
quality product
and services.”
A member of the
British
Association of
Reinforcement,
ArcelorMittal Kent
Wire is part of
ArcelorMittal, the
world’s largest
steel producer.