Patent ID: 8703030
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,B32B,C08F,C08K,C08L,F16L,H01B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a crosslinked polyethylene article, comprising: forming a blend by blending a polyethylene resin with a flexibilizing amount of a nonfunctionalized plasticizer (NFP) having a viscosity index greater than 120, kinematic viscosity from 3 to 300 cSt at 100° C., pour point less than −20° C., specific gravity less than 0.86, and flash point greater than 200° C., wherein the NFP contains less than 5 wt % by weight of the NFP of functional groups selected from hydroxides, aryls, substituted aryls, halogens, alkoxys, carboxylates, esters, acrylates, oxygens, nitrogens, and carboxyls, wherein less than 5% of a total number of carbon atoms in the NFP are directly involved in olefinic bonds, and wherein the blend comprises less than 10 wt % by weight of the blend of a propylene polymer having a melting point of 40° C. or more; processing the blend into a shape of an article; and crosslinking the processed blend to form the crosslinked polyethylene article.