Moisture crosslinkable copolymers of ethylene and hydrolysable silane

1. A copolymer of ethylene and hydrolysable silane, wherein the copolymer comprises one or both of from 0.1 wt % to 5.0 wt % hydrolysable silane groups and from 0.02 mol % to 1.00 mol % hydrolysable silane groups and has the following properties:

a Mz(abs)/Mw(abs) of less than or equal to 9.5;

a ratio of Mz(abs)/Mw(abs) to polydispersity of less than or equal to 1.2;

a polydispersity of 6.6 or greater;

a LCB of 2.9 or greater;

a Density×Polydispersity of 6.0 or greater;

an Amorphous Content at Room Temperature×Polydispersity of 360 or greater; and

an Amorphous Content at Room Temperature×Polydispersity×LCB of 1000 or greater.

2. The copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the copolymer comprises one or both of from 0.9 wt % to 3.5 wt % hydrolysable silane groups and from 0.17 mol % to 0.68 mol % hydrolysable silane groups.

3. The copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the copolymer has at least one of the following properties:

a Mz(abs)/Mw(abs) of less than or equal to 9.0;

a ratio of Mz(abs)/Mw(abs) to polydispersity of less than or equal to 1.4;

a polydispersity of 6.7 or greater;

a LCB of 3.0 or greater;

a Density×Polydispersity of 6.1 or greater;

an Amorphous Content at Room Temperature×Polydispersity of 370 or greater; or

an Amorphous Content at Room Temperature×Polydispersity×LCB of 1100 or greater.

4. The copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the copolymer has at least one of the following properties:

a Mz(abs)/Mw(abs) of less than or equal to 8.5;

a ratio of Mz(abs)/Mw(abs) to polydispersity of less than or equal to 1.3;

a polydispersity of 7.0 or greater;

a LCB of 3.1 or greater;

a Density×Polydispersity of 6.5 or greater;

an Amorphous Content at Room Temperature×Polydispersity of 400 or greater; or

an Amorphous Content at Room Temperature×Polydispersity×LCB of 1200 or greater.

5. A moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition comprising:

the copolymer of claim 1 ; and

a silanol condensation catalyst or catalyst masterbatch blend or silanol condensation catalyst masterbatch.

6. The moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition of claim 5 , wherein the moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition has a hot creep, measured at 0.2 MPa and 150° C. or 200° C. on extruded tape with a thickness of 50 mil (1.270 mm) to 80 mil (2.032 mm), of less than or equal to 100% within 15 days or less than or equal to 80% within 23 days, where the tape made of the moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition has been cured at 23° C. and 50% relative humidity.

7. The moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition of claim 5 , wherein the moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition has a hot creep, measured at 0.2 MPa and 150° C. or 200° C. on extruded tape with a thickness of 30 mil (0.762 mm) to 80 mil (2.032 mm), of less than or equal to 175% after curing the tape for 4 hours to 20 hours in a 90° C. water bath.

8. The moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition of claim 5 , wherein the copolymer of ethylene and hydrolysable silane comprises from 10.00 wt % to 99.95 wt % of the moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition, and

the silanol condensation catalyst or catalyst masterbatch blend or silanol condensation catalyst masterbatch comprises from 90.0 wt % to 0.05 wt % of the moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition.

9. The moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition of claim 5 , wherein the moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition further comprises one or more of:

moisture scavengers or scorch retardants;

antioxidants;

flame retardants;

UV stabilizers and absorbers;

metal deactivator;

polyolefins without silane functionality; and

silicones.

10. A cable comprising:

a conductor; and

a insulation or jacket annularly encompassing the conductor, wherein the jacket comprises the moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition of claim 5 .

11. A method for forming a moisture-crosslinkable polymer composition comprising:

forming a copolymer of ethylene and hydrolysable silane at a polymerization temperature of greater than or equal to 180° ° C. to less than or equal to 400° C. at a pressure from 5,000 psi (34.5 MPa) to 50,000 psi (344.7 MPa); and

adding a silanol condensation catalyst to the copolymer of ethylene and hydrolysable silane,

wherein the moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition has a hot creep, measured at 0.2 MPa and 150° ° C. or 200° C. on extruded tape with a thickness of 50 mil (1.270 mm) to 80 mil (2.032 mm), of less than or equal to 100% within 15 days or less than or equal to 80% within 23 days, where the tape made of the moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition has been cured at 23° C. and 50% relative humidity.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the copolymer of ethylene and hydrolysable silane is formed at a polymerization temperature of greater than or equal to 245° C. to less than or equal to 325° C.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the moisture-crosslinkable polymeric composition has a hot creep, measured at 0.2 MPa and 150° C. or 200° C. on extruded tape with a thickness of 30 mil (0.762 mm) to 80 mil (2.032 mm), of less than or equal to 175% after curing the tape for 4 hours to 20 hours in a 90° C. water bath.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the silanol condensation catalyst is added as a catalyst masterbatch blend or silanol condensation catalyst.