ELECTRICAL CABLE WITH IMPROVED INSTALLATION AND DURABILITY PERFORMANCE
An electrical cable having improved abrasion resistance, hydrophobicity, and/or UV protecting properties comprises a conductor having a protecting sheath and/or jacket comprising a base polymer (such as a thermoplastic or thermoset) having an abrasion reducing agent, a lubricant, a hydrophobic agent, and/or a UV protecting agent mixed therein. The resulting cable jacket and/or cable sheath defines an outer surface having improved abrasion reduction properties, lubricating properties, hydrophobic properties, and/or UV protecting properties.
1 - 30 . (canceled)
31 . A method of manufacturing an electrical cable, the method comprising:
providing at least one conductor capable of carrying an electrical current;
mixing a Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) base polymer and an abrasion reducing agent comprising molybdenum disulfide to form a polymeric composition, wherein the abrasion reducing agent is provided in an amount of between about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the polymeric composition; and
extruding the polymeric composition around the at least one conductor to form a protective sheath.
32 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 31 , further comprising mixing the LLDPE base polymer and the abrasion reducing agent with at least one of: a hydrophobic silica, an ultraviolet protecting agent, or a lubricant before extruding the polymeric composition around the at least one conductor.
33 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 31 , further comprising mixing the LLDPE base polymer and the abrasion reducing agent with a lubricant before extruding the polymeric composition around the at least one conductor, wherein the lubricant comprises silicone oil.
34 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 31 , further comprising mixing the LLDPE base polymer and the abrasion reducing agent with a lubricant before extruding the polymeric composition around the at least one conductor, wherein the lubricant comprises erucamide.
35 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 31 , wherein the polymeric composition is a first polymeric composition and wherein extruding the polymeric composition around the at least one conductor to form a protective sheath comprises:
extruding a second polymeric composition around the at least one conductor to form an inner sheath layer; and
extruding the first polymeric composition around an exterior of the inner sheath layer to form an outer sheath layer, wherein the outer sheath layer defines an outer surface of the electrical cable.
36 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 35 , wherein the first polymeric composition is different from the second polymeric composition.
37 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 31 , further comprising mixing the LLDPE base polymer and the abrasion reducing agent with a hydrophobic agent comprising hydrophobic silica provided in an amount of between about 1% to about 8% by weight of the polymeric composition.
38 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 37 , wherein the hydrophobic silica is one of a fumed silica or a pyrogenic silica.
39 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 37 , further comprising mixing the LLDPE base polymer, the abrasion reducing agent, and the hydrophobic agent with at least one of: an ultraviolet protecting agent or a lubricant.
40 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 37 , further comprising mixing the LLDPE base polymer, the abrasion reducing agent, and the hydrophobic agent with a lubricant, wherein the lubricant comprises one of: silicone oil or erucamide.
41 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 31 , further comprising mixing the LLDPE base polymer and the abrasion reducing agent with a lubricant provided in an amount of between about 1% to about 15% by weight of the polymeric composition.
42 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 31 , further comprising mixing the LLDPE base polymer and the abrasion reducing agent with:
an ultraviolet protecting agent provided in an amount of between about 0.1% to about 8% by weight of the polymeric composition;
a lubricant provided in an amount of between about 1% to about 15% by weight of the polymeric composition; and
a hydrophobic agent provided in an amount of between about 1% to about 8% by weight of the polymeric composition.
43 . The method of manufacturing an electrical cable of claim 42 , wherein:
the ultraviolet protecting agent is selected from: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or carbon black;
the lubricant is selected from: silicone oil or erucamide; and
the hydrophobic agent is hydrophobic silica.