Cable with recyclable covering

1. A cable, comprising:

at least one conductor; and

at least one covering layer;

wherein the at least one covering layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer material,

wherein the thermoplastic polymer material comprises:

a propylene homopolymer; or

a copolymer of propylene with an olefin comonomer;

wherein the olefin comonomer is ethylene, one or more α-olefins other than propylene, or ethylene and one or more α-olefins other than propylene,

wherein the propylene homopolymer or copolymer of propylene has:

a melting point between 140° C. and 165° C.;

a melting enthalpy between 30 J/g and 80 J/g;

a boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction less than or equal to 12 wt %, wherein the boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy less than or equal to 4 J/g;

a boiling n-heptane soluble fraction between 15 wt % and 60 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy between 10 J/g and 40 J/g; and

a boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction between 40 wt % and 85 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction has a melting enthalpy greater than or equal to 45 J/g.

2. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction is between 1 wt % and 10 wt %, and

wherein the boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy less than or equal to 2 J/g.

3. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the n-heptane soluble fraction is between 20 wt % and 50 wt %, and

wherein the n-heptane soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy between 15 J/g and 30 J/g.

4. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the n-heptane insoluble fraction is between 50 wt % and 80 wt %, and

wherein the n-heptane insoluble fraction has a melting enthalpy between 50 J/g and 95 J/g.

5. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the propylene homopolymer or copolymer of propylene has a melt flow index, measured according to ASTM D1238/L, between 0.01 dg/min and 50 dg/min.

6. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the propylene homopolymer or copolymer of propylene has a melt flow index, measured according to ASTM D1238/L, between 0.5 dg/min and 10 dg/min.

7. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer material has a flexural modulus, measured according to ASTM D638, between 15 MPa and 900 MPa.

8. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the olefin comonomer is present in a quantity less than or equal to 15 mol %.

9. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the olefin comonomer is present in a quantity of less than or equal to 10 mol %.

10. The cable claim 1 , wherein the olefin comonomer is ethylene.

11. The cable claim 1 , wherein the olefin comonomer is one or more α-olefins other than propylene.

12. The cable claim 1 , wherein the olefin comonomer is one α-olefin other than propylene.

13. A cable, comprising:

at least one conductor; and

at least one covering layer;

wherein the at least one covering layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer material,

wherein the thermoplastic polymer material comprises:

a copolymer of propylene with an olefin comonomer;

wherein the olefin comonomer is ethylene and one or more α-olefins other than propylene,

wherein the propylene homopolymer or copolymer of propylene has:

a melting point between 140° C. and 165° C.;

a melting enthalpy between 30 J/g and 80 J/g;

a boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction less than or equal to 12 wt %, wherein the boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy less than or equal to 4 J/g;

a boiling n-heptane soluble fraction between 15 wt % and 60 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane soluble fraction as a melting enthalpy between 10 J/g and 40 J/g; and

a boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction between 40% and 85 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction has a melting enthalpy greater than or equal to 45 J/g.

14. A cable, comprising:

at least one conductor; and

at least one covering layer;

wherein the at least one covering layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer material,

wherein the thermoplastic polymer material comprises:

a copolymer of propylene with an olefin comonomer;

wherein the olefin comonomer is ethylene and one α-olefins other than propylene,

wherein the propylene homopolymer or copolymer of propylene has:

a melting point between 140° C. and 165° C.;

a melting enthalpy between 30 J/g and 80 J/g;

a boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction less than or equal to 12 wt %, wherein the boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy less than or equal to 4 J/g;

a boiling n-heptane soluble fraction between 15 wt % and 60 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy between 10 J/g and 40 J/g; and

a boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction between 40 wt % and 85 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction has a melting enthalpy greater than or equal to 45 J/g.

15. A cable, comprising:

at least one conductor; and

at least one covering layer;

wherein the at least one covering layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer material,

wherein the thermoplastic polymer material comprises:

a copolymer of propylene with an olefin comonomer;

wherein the olefin comonomer is one or more α-olefins of formula

CH 2 ═CH—R, and

wherein R is a linear or branched C 2 -C 10 alkyl,

wherein the propylene homopolymer or copolymer of propylene has:

a melting point between 140° C. and 165° C.;

a melting enthalpy between 30 J/g and 80 J/g;

a boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction less than or equal to 12 wt %, wherein the boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy less than or equal to 4 J/g;

a boiling n-heptane soluble fraction between 15 wt % and 60 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy between 10 J/g and 40 J/g; and

a boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction between 40 wt % and 85 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction has a melting enthalpy greater than or equal to 45 J/g.

16. The cable of claim 15 , wherein the olefin comonomer is one or more of 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene, 1-dodecene, and 4-methyl-1-pentene.

17. The cable of claim 15 , wherein the olefin comonomer is one of 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene, 1-dodecene, and 4-methyl-1-pentene.

18. A cable, comprising:

at least one conductor; and

at least one covering layer;

wherein the at least one covering layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer material,

wherein the thermoplastic polymer material comprises:

a copolymer of propylene with an olefin comonomer;

wherein the olefin comonomer is ethylene and one or more α-olefins of

formula CH 2 ═CH—R, and

wherein R is a linear or branched C 2 -C 10 alkyl,

wherein the propylene homopolymer or copolymer of propylene has:

a melting point between 140° C. and 165° C.;

a melting enthalpy between 30 J/g and 80 J/g;

a boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction less than or equal to 12 wt %, wherein the boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy less than or equal to 4 J/g;

a boiling n-heptane soluble fraction between 15 wt % and 60 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy between 10 J/g and 40 J/g; and

a boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction between 40 wt % and 85 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction has a melting enthalpy greater than or equal to 45 J/g.

19. The cable of claim 18 , wherein the olefin comonomer is ethylene and one or more of 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene, 1-dodecene, and 4-methyl-1-pentene.

20. The cable of claim 18 , wherein the olefin comonomer is ethylene and one of 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene, 1-dodecene, and 4-methyl-1-pentene.

21. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the at least one covering layer has electrically-insulating properties.

22. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the at least one covering layer has semiconductive properties.

23. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the at least one covering layer comprises a conductive filler.

24. The cable of claim 1 , wherein a conductive filler is dispersed in the at least one covering layer.

25. The cable of claim 1 , wherein a conductive filler is dispersed in the thermoplastic polymer material.

26. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the at least one covering layer is an outer protective sheath.

27. A method of producing a cable comprising at least one conductor, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a thermoplastic polymer material; and

applying at least one covering layer comprising the thermoplastic polymer material around the at least one conductor;

wherein the thermoplastic polymer material comprises:

a propylene homopolymer; or

a copolymer of propylene with an olefin comonomer;

wherein the olefin comonomer is ethylene, one or more α-olefins other than propylene, or ethylene and one or more α-olefins other than propylene,

wherein the propylene homopolymer or copolymer of propylene has:

a melting point between 140° C. and 165° C.;

a melting enthalpy between 30 J/g and 80 J/g;

a boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction less than or equal to 12 wt %, wherein the boiling diethyl ether soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy less than or equal to 4 J/g;

a boiling n-heptane soluble fraction between 15 wt % and 60 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane soluble fraction has a melting enthalpy between 10 J/g and 40 J/g; and

a boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction between 40 wt % and 85 wt %, wherein the boiling n-heptane insoluble fraction has a melting enthalpy greater than or equal to 45 J/g.

28. The method of claim 27 , herein the at least one covering layer has electrically-insulating properties.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the at least one covering layer has semiconductive properties.

30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the at least one covering layer comprises a conductive filler.

31. The method of claim 27 , wherein a conductive filler is dispersed in the at least one covering layer.

32. The method of claim 27 , wherein a conductive filler is dispersed in the thermoplastic polymer material.

33. The method of claim 27 , wherein the at least one covering layer is an outer protective sheath.