Cable Oils, Gels, Potting Compounds, Flooding and Filling Compounds
Polyisobutenes are typically used in cable insulation, waterproofing and protection of electrical / fibre optic cables as they offer a very high level of oxidative stability as well as resistance to oxidation while under electrical stress.
Due to their non-conductive electrical properties together with their hydrophobic nature, polyisobutylenes are ideal for a wide range of electrical insulation applications including: impregnants for dielectrics, cable oils, gels and potting compounds.
PIB is added to flooding and filling compounds for copper and fibre-optic cables. They flood the armoured layers within the cable to prevent the ingress of water onto the cable. The filling compounds are used to space the conductors. The viscosity of cable filling compounds is generally lower than that of flooding compounds.
Underwater cables are filled with PIB for two prime reasons: to impart self-healing properties which will combat potential punctures as well as to keep moisture away from the optical fibres. Butyl rubber plasticised with KEMAT polybutenes can also be used as an electrical insulator combined with a flame retardant.
KEMAT has the widest range of molecular weights on the market to match any formulation requirements for cable and electrical insulators. Check out Polybut™ (low molecular weight conventional polybutenes) and Polybol™ (medium and high molecular weight polyisobutenes).
Properties
- superior electrical insulation
- non-conductive electrical
- thermal stability
- oxidation stability
- excellent water barrier
- low power factor
- no impurities
- low chloride content
- low temperature flexibility
- self-healing
End User Applications
- telecommunication cables: copper wires and optical fibres
- power cables
- telecom insulation and jacketing
- cable oils
- cable jelly compounds
- cable insulation