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Introduction:

The electrical industry has always been at the forefront of technological advancements, with constant innovations in materials and manufacturing processes. Among these innovations, silicone powders and masterbatches have emerged as game-changers in the wire and cable industry. This blog delves into the transformative role of silicone additives in cable materials, exploring their unique properties, applications, and the impact on the future of cable manufacturing.

Cable material materials include the following main types, each with its own unique advantages and application scenarios:

1. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

   – Advantages: good mechanical properties, large dielectric constant, chemical resistance, good weather resistance, lower cost.

   – Application Scenario: Mainly used for insulation and sheathing materials, such as power cables, communication cables, automotive wires and so on.

2. Polyethylene (PE).

   – Advantage: good dielectric properties, small water absorption, small dielectric loss angle and dielectric constant, insulation properties better than PVC.

   – Application Scenario: Commonly used in communication cable insulation, power cable sheathing, and as the outer layer of buried cables.

3. Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE).

   – Advantage: Improved heat resistance and mechanical properties through cross-linking, with excellent electrical properties and chemical resistance.

   – Application Scenario: Suitable for medium and high voltage power cables, especially for cable manufacturing in high temperature environments.

4. Polypropylene (PP).

   – Advantage: similar mechanical and electrical properties with PE, good resistance to environmental stress cracking.

   – Application Scenario: Used for cable manufacturing in some specific environments, such as the need for chemical corrosion resistance.

5. Polyester (PET).

   – Advantage: good insulating properties, good temperature resistance, commonly used as a core wrapping material.

   – Application Scenario: Used in the process of manufacturing wire and cable core wrapping, as well as aluminium-plastic composite tape used in conjunction with aluminium foil.

6. Low Smoke and Halogen Free Cable Material (LSOH).

   – Advantage: High light transmission rate of smoke produced during combustion, halogen-free, environmentally friendly, and with flame retardant properties.

   – Application Scenario: Suitable for construction, transport, information communication and other fields with high requirements for safety and environmental protection.

7. Polystyrene (PS).

   – Advantages: high transparency, good electrical insulation, easy colouring, good processing fluidity.

   – Application Scenario: Can be used for transparent products, electrical accessories, toys, packaging materials, etc..

8. Polyamide (PA, nylon):.

   – Advantages: abrasion resistance, oil resistance and high mechanical strength, good heat resistance.

   – Application Scenario: Due to its high water absorption, it is usually not used as insulation, but can be used to manufacture certain parts of wires.

These materials are selected for use in different cable manufacturing processes based on their specific physical and chemical properties to meet different electrical and environmental requirements.

The Significance of Silicone Powders, Silicone Masterbatches in Wire and Cable Industry:

Silicone powders, Silicone Masterbatches , have found a niche in the wire and cable industry due to their exceptional properties. They are often used to enhance the performance of cable materials, providing them with improved resistance to environmental stress cracking and thermal aging.

Properties of Silicone Powders, Silicone Masterbatches:

Uniform Dispersion: Ensures that the silicone additives are evenly distributed throughout the cable material.

Ease of Use: Simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the need for separate mixing and blending steps.

Cost-Effectiveness: Reduces the amount of material needed to achieve desired properties, thereby cutting costs.

The Future of Silicone Additives in the Cable Industry:

As technology advances and demand for high-performance cables grows, the role of silicone powders and masterbatches is expected to expand. Research and development in silicone chemistry will likely uncover new applications and further enhance the properties of cable materials.

SILIKE Silicone powder, Silicone  masterbatches for Wire & cable——Provide new opportunities for the wire and cable industry

SILIKE LYSI series silicone masterbatches innovative solutions are selected for the outstanding processing properties and aesthetic surface quality they provide in wire and cable applications.

Wire and cable compounds are heavily loaded and can create issues with processing release, die drool, poor surface quality, and pigment/filler dispersion. SILIKE silicone additives are based on different resins to ensure optimum compatibility with the thermoplastic. Incorporating SILIKE LYSI series silicone masterbatch significantly improves the material flow, extrusion process, slip surface touch and feel, and creates a synergistic effect with flame-retardant fillers.

SILIKE silicone additives are widely used in LSZH/HFFR wire and cable compounds, silane crossing linking XLPE compounds, TPE wire, Low smoke & low COF PVC compounds. Making wire and cable products eco-friendly, safer, and stronger for better end-use performance.

SILIKE LYSI series Silicone powders suitable for various applications like wire&cable compounds, engineering plastics, color/filler masterbatches…

Such as SILIKE Silicone powders LYSI-100:  Compare to conventional lower molecular weight Silicone / Siloxane additives,like Silicone oil, silicone fluids or other type processing aids, SILIKE Silicone powder LYSI-100 is expected to give improved benefits on processing proopertise and modify the surface quality of final products, eg,. Less screw slippage , improved mold release, reduce die drool, a lower coefficient of friction, fewer paint and printing problems, and a broader range of performance capabilities, and brings stronger wear and scratch resistance to the products.

If you want to increase productivity, you can choose SILIKE Silicone masterbatches SC920. Silicone processing aid SC 920 is a special silicone processing aid for LSZH and HFFR cable materials. It is applied to improve the processing performance of materials in LSZH and HFFR system, and is suitable for high-speed extruded cables, improve output, and prevent the extrusion phenomenon such as unstable wire diameter and screw slip. When applied to the LSZH and HFFR system, can improve the extrusion process of the mouth die accumulation, suitable for high-speed extrusion of the cable, improve production, prevent the diameter of the line instability, screw slip and other extrusion phenomenon. Significantly improve the processing flowability, reduce the melt viscosity in the production process of high-filled halogen-free flame-retardant materials, reduce torque and processing current, reduce equipment wear, reduce product defect rate.

Conclusion:

Silicone powders and masterbatches have established themselves as indispensable additives in the wire and cable industry. Their unique properties and wide range of applications have transformed cable manufacturing, offering solutions for high-performance, reliable, and environmentally friendly cables. As the industry continues to evolve, the integration of silicone additives is poised to drive further innovation and excellence in cable technology.

If you are troubled by the processing of cable materials, please contact us and SILIKE will provide you with exclusive solutions.

Contact us Tel: +86-28-83625089 or via email: amy.wang@silike.cn.
website:www.siliketech.com to learn more.