Fluorocarbon polymer compositions and articles, especially electric cables, with markings on a surface thereof.

Abstract: A polymer composition for high-performance cables or other products requiring laser markings comprises 0.5-15% (preferably 1-10%) of a conjugated aromatic polymer (eg PEEK) dispersed in a fully fluorinated polymer matrix (eg FEP). A good white is attained without pigment, but pigments can be used eg to obtain coloured backgrounds.

Description: This invention relates to articles, more especially but not exclusively electric cables, in which fluorocarbon compositions are used and in which markings are applied to a surface of such a composition. Polymers that are completely fluorinated, or nearly so, such as polytetrafluoro ethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer (FEP) and the polymer sold under the trade mark "DuPont" as DuPont PFA are valued for high temperature rating, chemical inertness and good electrical properties; but their inert surfaces do not easily accept durable markings with inks or paints and laser printers tend to be ineffectual; in some cases the laser beam may pass through the polymer without absorption, and in others material may be ablated from the surface without any visible mark resulting; certain lasers working in the ultra-violet region do produce marks, but they are pale grey and not clearly visible. We have discovered that certain fluorocarbon polymer compositions (not wholly new per se , see for example EP-A-0199991) accept clearly visible laser printed markings without significant detriment to temperature rating or to physical or electrical properties. The invention provides an article, especially an electric cable, having markings upon a surface thereof, wherein the surface is made of a composition comprising 0.5-15% (by weight of total polymer) of a conjugated aromatic polymer dispersed as light-scattering particles in a matrix of a substantially fully fluorinated polymer and the markings are formed by laser printing. Preferably the content of the aromatic polymer in the composition is in the range 1-10% and more especially 1-5%; contents above 10% may lead to reduced toughness, besides being more expensive, while contents below about 1% may have less than ideal contrast. However, the precise content is not at all critical to the appearance of the markings, within the range defined. Pigments may be present (in conventional amounts) but a good white is easily achieved without any pigments whatsoever and the use of white pigment by itself appears to have no advantages. Other minor additives can be used, if required. Suitable conjugated aromatic polymers currently available include polyketones, polyetherketones (especially the one sold by Imperial Chemical Industries plc as PEEK®), polysulphones, polyethersulphones, polyimides, polyphenylene sulphides, polyetherimides and certain liquid crystal polymers. Infra-red, visible and ultra-violet lasers are all expected to give good results. Examples A series of screened 2-core aircraft cables were jacketed with the compositions shown in Table 1 below. In each case the ingredients were dried and tumble-mixed before supply to the hopper of a conventional thermoplastic-fluorocarbon extruder. The cables were marked using a YAG laser operating at 1064 nm with a beam power of about 5 W; in all cases clearly visible black markings were produced. A series of wires were similarly coated with the compositions detailed in Tables 2 and 3. These were marked using a single pulse of radiation from a 248mm krypton fluoride excimer U.V. laser. In all cases markings clearly legible under a hand lens were obtained.

Claims: An article, especially an electric cable, having markings upon a surface thereof wherein the surface is made of a polymer composition comprising 0.5-15% (by weight of total polymer) of a conjugated aromatic polymer dispersed as light-scattering particles in a matrix of a substantially fully fluorinated polymer and the markings are formed by laser printing. An article as claimed in Claim 1 in which the said polymer composition is white but contains no pigment. An article as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the content of the said aromatic polymer in the composition is 1-10%. An article as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the content of the said aromatic polymer in the composition is 1-5%.

Inventors: COXON, ERIC
Applicants: BICC PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C08L27
IPC codes: B41M5, C08L27, H01B3