Patent Description:
Patent application publications in or about the field include <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. Patents in or about the field include <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

We recognized a problem that hurts the performance of power cables operating at higher voltages and exposed to moisture. Under these conditions, water-tree growth can occur over time in the insulation layer, which can lead to electrical treeing therein, which in turn can ultimately lead to failure of the insulation layer. The time to reach such failure can be lengthened, and thus reliability of power delivery increased and maintenance costs decreased, by using a more resilient material in the insulation layer. Past material solutions that were proposed for MV power cables, however, result in unacceptable dissipation factor if used at higher voltages (HV or EHV power cables).

We found that using more of certain water-tree retardant additives does not necessarily increase inhibition of water-treeing and may worsen it. Further, additional retardant can cause other problems such as bloom or sweat out of the water-tree retardant (i.e., migration of the water-tree retardant from an interior portion of the insulation layer to a surface of the insulation layer). Also, many additives that inhibit water treeing cause other problems such as large increases in dissipation factor. A problem to be solved then is to find a new polyolefin-containing formulation that better inhibits water-tree growth, and thereby electrical-tree growth, without migration and without a large increase in dissipation factor.

Our technical solution to this problem includes a polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation comprising (A) an olefin-based (co)polymer; (B) a poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer; and (C) an antioxidant ("inventive formulation"). Also inventive are a method of making the inventive formulation; a crosslinked polyolefin product made by curing the inventive formulation ("inventive product"); manufactured articles comprising a shaped form of the inventive formulation or product ("inventive articles"); and methods of using the inventive formulation, product, or articles.

The inventive formulation, product, and articles are useful in electricity transmitting applications. Although the inventive formulation was conceived in the course of solving the aforementioned problems of insulated electrical conductors, the articles and uses of the inventive formulation are not limited to insulated electrical conductors or electricity transmitting and water treeing-inhibiting applications. Articles and uses of the inventive formulation also include other articles such as containers or vehicle parts and their ad rem uses.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided herein a polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation comprising from <NUM> to <NUM> weight percent (wt%) of (A) an olefin-based (co)polymer; from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of (B) a poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer; from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of (C) an antioxidant; and from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of (D) an organic peroxide; with the proviso that the wt% of (A) = <NUM> wt% - wt% of (B) - wt% of (C) - wt% (D) - wt% of all other optional constituents, if any. In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided herein a method of making the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation of the present invention, the method comprising mixing the (B) poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer and (C) antioxidant into a melt of the (A) olefin-based (co)polymer to give a melt blend comprising constituents (A), (B), and (C); optionally extruding the melt blend to give an extrudate comprising constituents (A), (B), and (C); optionally pelletizing the extrudate to give pellets comprising constituents (A), (B), and (C); and optionally adding (D) organic peroxide to the melt blend, extrudate, or pellets to give the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation. In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided herein a crosslinked polyolefin product that is a product of curing the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation of the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided herein a manufactured article comprising a shaped form of the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation of the present invention, the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation made by the method of the present invention, or the crosslinked polyolefin product of the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided herein an insulated electrical conductor comprising a conductive core and an insulation layer at least partially covering the conductive core, wherein at least a portion of the insulation layer comprises the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation of the present invention, the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation made by the method of the present invention, or the crosslinked polyolefin product of the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided herein a method of conducting electricity, the method comprising applying a voltage across the conductive core of the insulated electrical conductor of the present invention so as to generate a flow of electricity through the conductive core.

At least one. Independently at each occurrence one or more. Examples are <NUM> to <NUM>, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM>, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM>, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM>, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM>, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM>, alternatively <NUM>, alternatively <NUM>, alternatively <NUM>.

<NUM>-Alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline compound: a molecule of formula (I):
<CHM>
or a collection of such molecules, wherein each R group independently is an unsubstituted (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group. Also known as <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydro-<NUM>,<NUM>-oxazole. Each unsubstituted (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group may be a straight chain unsubstituted (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group, a branch chain unsubstituted (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group, a cyclic unsubstituted (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group, or a combination thereof. Each straight or branched chain unsubstituted (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group may independently be any one of groups (i) to (xx): (i) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (ii) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (iii) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (iv) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (v) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (vi) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (vii) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (viii) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (ix) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (x) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (xi) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (xii) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (xiii) a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group; (xiv) methyl; (xv) ethyl; (xvi) propyl; (xvii) <NUM>-methylethyl; (xviii) butyl; (xix) <NUM>-methylpropyl; and (xx) <NUM>-methylpropyl. The compound <NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline, also known as <NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydro-<NUM>,<NUM>-oxazole, has CAS number <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>. The <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline compound may be synthesized according to known methods such as the methods described by <NPL>. For example, Synthesis C. FROM HALOAMIDES (Frump, ibid, page <NUM>) may be used: mix <NUM>-chloroethanol (HOCH<NUM>CH<NUM>Cl) with an alkyl nitrile of formula (II): R-C=N (II), wherein R is as defined above, at <NUM>° C. for <NUM> hours to give a mixture, and then add sodium carbonate (Na<NUM>CO<NUM>) to the mixture to give an N-(<NUM>-chloroethyl)carboxamide of formula R-C(=O)N(H)CH<NUM>CH<NUM>Cl (III). Then react the N-(<NUM>-chloroethyl)carboxamide of formula (III) with a strong base such as a <NUM> wt% ethanolic potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution or a suspension of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) powder in hexane to give the <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline compound of formula (I). Many <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline compounds are commercially available, including <NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-oxazoline, <NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline, <NUM>-(<NUM>'-methylethyl)-oxazoline, <NUM>-propyl-oxazoline, and <NUM>-butyl-oxazoline.

Carbon black: a finely-divided form of paracrystalline carbon having a high surface area-to-volume ratio, but lower than that of activated carbon. Examples are furnace carbon black, acetylene carbon black, and conductive carbons (e.g., carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphites, and expanded graphite platelets).

Coagent or curing coagent: a compound that enhances crosslinking. Examples are acyclic or cyclic compounds that contain carbon atoms in their respective backbone or ring substructure and terminal alkenyl groups bonded thereto.

(Co)polymer: a homopolymer and/or a copolymer.

Copolymer: a macromolecule, or collection of macromolecules, having monomeric units, made by polymerizing a monomer, and one or more different types of comonomeric units, made by polymerizing one or more comonomers. Monomers and comonomers are polymerizable molecules and different in structure from each other. A monomeric unit, also called a monomer unit or "mer", is the largest constitutional unit contributed by (derived from) a single monomer molecule to the structure of the macromolecule(s). A comonomeric unit, also called a comonomer unit, is the largest constitutional unit contributed by (derived from) a single comonomer molecule to the structure of the macromolecule(s). Common copolymers include a "bipolymer", which is made from one monomer and one comonomer; and a "terpolymer", which is a copolymer made from one monomer and two different comonomers.

Cure agent: a radical-generating compound that, after being subjected to an activation condition, forms a free-radical and initiates or enhances crosslinking of macromolecules, especially of the (A) olefin-based (co)polymer. Activation condition may be heat or light. Examples are peroxides, diazo-functional organic compounds, and <NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-diphenylbutane. Peroxides are hydrogen-organic peroxides of formula H-O-O-R or the (D) organic peroxide. Cure agent is different in composition and function from the coagent.

Curing or crosslinking: forming a crosslinked product (network polymer).

Formulation: a single phase or multiphase, uniform or non-uniform, divided or continuous, crosslinkable, one-part, two-part, or three-part mixture, the total weight of which is <NUM> wt%. The divided solid form may comprise granules, pellets, powder, or a combination of any two or more thereof. The continuous form may be a molded part (e.g., blow molded part) or an extruded part (e.g., an insulation layer of an insulated electrical conductor).

Hindered phenol: a hydroxybenzene containing bulky groups at ortho positions to the hydroxyl and having an antioxidizing property. The bulky groups may be independent alkyl groups, e.g., isopropyl, tertiary-butyl, neopentyl.

Homopolymer: a macromolecule, or collection of macromolecules, composed of repeat units consisting of monomeric units derived from only one monomer and no comonomer. The monomer may be a real or actual monomer. Homopolymer may exclude macromolecules derived from implicit or hypothetical monomers.

(Meth)acrylate: an acrylate, methacrylate, or a combination thereof. The (meth)acrylate may be unsubstituted.

Molecular mass dispersity, ÐM (pronounced "D-stroke em") is a ratio of weight-average molecular weight (Mw) divided by number-average molecular weight (Mn). ÐM = Mw/Mn. Also known as molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, MWD, or polydispersity index.

Olefin-based (co)polymer: a polyolefin homopolymer (<NUM> wt% olefinic monomeric units and <NUM> wt% comonomeric units) or an olefin-based copolymer.

Olefin-based copolymer or olefin/comonomer copolymer: macromolecules having a simple majority, alternatively from <NUM> to < <NUM> wt%, alternatively an absolute majority of monomeric units derived from an olefin hydrocarbon such as ethylene (CH<NUM>=CH<NUM>) or propylene (CH<NUM>= CHCH<NUM>), and a simple minority, alternatively from > <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively an absolute minority of comonomeric units derived from one or more comonomers. Examples of comonomers are (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alpha-olefins, dienes, vinyl silanes, vinyl acetate, and alkyl acrylates.

Poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer: is a poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) polymer, a poly((<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) copolymer, or a combination thereof. The poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) polymer is also called herein a poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer. The poly((<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) copolymer2-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline is a copolymer of two or more different <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline monomers. The poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer may have <NUM> or more <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline monomeric constitutional units. The poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer may be free of unreacted monomer that is a <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline compound. The poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer may be free of oligomers of a <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline compound (having <NUM> to <NUM><NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline monomeric constitutional units. The poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer may be a reaction product of polymerizing at least one of the <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline compound of formula (I) described earlier.

The polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation (polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline)-containing formulation or inventive formulation) may be made different ways. For example, mixing a melt of the (A) ethylene-based (co)polymer with the (B) PAO (co)polymer, and constituent (C) antioxidant, and any optional constituents (e.g., any zero, one or more of constituents (D) to (L)), to give the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation as an admixture of constituents (A), (B), (C), and the any optional constituents. The mixing may comprise compounding, kneading, or extruding. To facilitate mixing one or more constituents (e.g., (B), (C), additives (D), (E), (F), etc.) may be provided in the form of an additive masterbatch in a portion of (A) or as a dispersion of additive in a carrier resin other than (A). The carrier resin may be a polypropylene polymer. The (D) organic peroxide may alternatively be added by an imbibing, injecting, or soaking method, comprising coating surfaces of pellets of a blend of constituents (A), (B), (C), and any optional constituents, with the (D) organic peroxide. The imbibing, injecting, or soaking may be carried out at a temperature from about <NUM>° to <NUM>° C. for <NUM> to <NUM> hours, e.g., <NUM>° to <NUM>° C. for <NUM> to <NUM> hours. Higher temperatures may be used for the imbibing, injecting, or soaking with the proviso that any (D) organic peroxide does not undergo significant amount of decomposition temperature. If desired the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation may be cooled to a storage temperature (e.g., <NUM>° C. ) and stored for a period of time of <NUM> hour, <NUM> week, <NUM> month, or longer. The polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation may be crosslinked by irradiation curing or organic peroxide/heat curing.

In some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation is free of any one of materials (i) to (vi): (i) a carbon black, (ii) a polyester, (iii) a polyalcohol, (iv) an anti-static agent, (v) any two of (i) to (iv), and (vi) each of (i) to (iv). The anti-static agent may be an ethoxylated alkylamine, an ethoxylated dialkylamine, a fatty acid ester, a poly(ethylene glycol ester), a polyglycerol ester, a glycidyl ester, an alkyl sulfonate, a pentaerythritol ester, a sorbitan ester, a diethanol amide of a carboxylic acid such as a diethanol amide of a fatty acid.

The polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation may be free of any carboncontaining backbone-based polymer other than constituents (A), (B), (C), and any carboncontaining backbone-based polymer embodiments of optional constituents (D) to (L). in some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation may be free of at least one of, alternatively each of a polypropylene carrier resin; a polypropylene homopolymer; a propylene/ethylene copolymer containing <NUM> to < <NUM> wt% propylenic monomeric units and <NUM> to <NUM> wt% ethylenic comonomeric units; and a propylene/ethylene/diene (EPDM) copolymer containing <NUM> to < <NUM> wt% propylenic monomeric units, <NUM> to > <NUM> wt% of ethylenic units, and <NUM> to <NUM> wt% dienic comonomeric units. Alternatively the (A) olefin-based (co)polymer of the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation may comprise a polypropylene homopolymer containing <NUM> to <NUM> wt% propylenic monomeric units; a propylene/ethylene copolymer containing <NUM> to < <NUM> wt% propylenic monomeric units and <NUM> to <NUM> wt% ethylenic comonomeric units; or a propylene/ethylene/diene (EPDM) copolymer containing <NUM> to < <NUM> wt% propylenic monomeric units, <NUM> to > <NUM> wt% of ethylenic units, and <NUM> to <NUM> wt% dienic comonomeric units. The diene used to make the dienic comonomeric units may be <NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene; <NUM>,<NUM>-hexadiene; <NUM>,<NUM>-octadiene; ethylidene norbornene; dicyclopentadiene; or vinyl norbornene.

The constituent (A) olefin-based (co)polymer: a single phase or multiphase, uniform or non-uniform, continuous phase or discontinuous phase, crosslinkable macromolecule composed of repeat units made from olefin monomer and optionally one or more olefin-functional comonomers, wherein the macromolecule has a backbone consisting essentially of, or consisting of carbon atoms, or a collection of such crosslinkable macromolecules, which yield a network structure upon being crosslinked. The (A) may be a polyolefin homopolymer such as a polyethylene homopolymer containing repeat units derived from ethylene; or an olefin-based copolymer such as an ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer, also referred to as a copolymer, containing repeat units derived from ethylene and repeat units derived from an alpha-olefin comonomer, which is different than ethylene; or an ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic ester copolymer comprising from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% ethylenic monomeric units and from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% unsaturated carboxylic ester comonomeric units; or an ethylene/olefin-functional hydrolyzable silane copolymer comprising from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% ethylenic monomeric units and from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% olefin-functional hydrolyzable silane comonomeric units. Interpolymer includes bipolymers, terpolymers, etc. The (A) may be a polypropylene such as a P-laser product available from Prysmian Group, Milan, Italy.

The (A) olefin-based (co)polymer may be the ethylene-based (co)polymer or propylene-based (co)polymer. The ethylene-based (co)polymer may be a polyethylene homopolymer containing <NUM> to <NUM> wt% ethylenic monomeric units. The polyethylene homopolymer may be high density polyethylene (HDPE) homopolymer made by coordination polymerization or a low density polyethylene (LDPE) homopolymer made by radical polymerization.

Alternatively, the (A) olefin-based (co)polymer may be an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer containing <NUM> to < <NUM> wt% ethylenic monomeric units and <NUM> to <NUM> wt% (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alpha-olefin-derived comonomeric units. The ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer embodiment of the ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer may be a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), or high density polyethylene (HDPE). Alternatively, the polyethylene polymer may be a low density polyethylene (LDPE). The ethylene/alpha-olefin (alpha-olefin also written as "a-olefin") interpolymer having an alpha-olefin content of at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, or at least <NUM> wt% based on the entire interpolymer weight. These interpolymers can have an alpha-olefin content of less than <NUM> wt%, less than <NUM> wt%, less than <NUM> wt%, or less than <NUM> wt% based on the entire interpolymer weight. Illustrative ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymers are ethylene/propylene, ethylene/<NUM>-butene, ethylene/<NUM>-hexene, ethylene/<NUM>-octene, ethylene/diene containing from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% diene comonomeric units, ethylene/propylene/<NUM>-octene, ethylene/propylene/<NUM>-butene, ethylene/<NUM>-butene/<NUM>-octene, ethylene/propylene/diene (EPDM) containing <NUM> to <NUM> wt% ethylene monomeric units, <NUM> to > <NUM> wt% of propylene comonomeric units, and <NUM> to <NUM> wt% diene comonomeric units. The diene used to make the diene comonomeric units in the ethylene/diene copolymer or in EPDM independently may be <NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene; <NUM>,<NUM>-hexadiene; <NUM>,<NUM>-octadiene; ethylidene norbornene; dicyclopentadiene; vinyl norbornene; or a combination of any two or more thereof.

The (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alpha-olefin of the ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer aspect of the (A) olefin-based (co)polymer may be a compound of formula (I): H<NUM>C=C(H)-R (I), wherein R is a straight chain (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group. The (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group is a monovalent unsubstituted saturated hydrocarbon having from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms. Examples of R are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, and octadecyl. In some embodiments the (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alpha-olefin is <NUM>-propene, <NUM>-butene, <NUM>-hexene, or <NUM>-octene; alternatively <NUM>-butene, <NUM>-hexene, or <NUM>-octene; alternatively <NUM>-butene or <NUM>-hexene; alternatively <NUM>-butene or <NUM>-octene; alternatively <NUM>-hexene or <NUM>-octene; alternatively <NUM>-butene; alternatively <NUM>-hexene; alternatively <NUM>-octene; alternatively a combination of any two of <NUM>-butene, <NUM>-hexene, and <NUM>-octene. Alternatively, the alpha-olefin may have a cyclic structure such as cyclohexane or cyclopentane, resulting in an alpha-olefin such as <NUM>-cyclohexyl-<NUM>-propene (allyl cyclohexane) and vinyl cyclohexane. The (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alpha-olefin may be used as a comonomer with ethylene monomer or propylene monomer.

The ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic ester copolymer embodiment of the (A) olefin-based (co)polymer is made by copolymerizing ethylene monomer and at least one unsaturated carboxylic ester comonomer. Each unsaturated carboxylic ester comonomer may independently have hydrogen atoms and from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms per molecule, i.e., be a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)unsaturated carboxylic ester comonomer. In some aspects the unsaturated carboxylic ester comonomer may be a vinyl (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)carboxylate and the ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic ester copolymer is an ethylene-vinyl (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)carboxylate copolymer, which may have a vinyl (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)carboxylate comonomeric content from > <NUM> to < <NUM> wt%, alternatively from > <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from > <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% based on total weight of the ethylene-vinyl (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)carboxylate copolymer. In some aspects the vinyl (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)carboxylate is a vinyl ester of a carboxylic acid anion having from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms. The vinyl (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)carboxylate may be a vinyl (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)carboxylate such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, or vinyl butanoate and the ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic ester copolymer may be an ethylene-vinyl (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)carboxylate bipolymer, alternatively an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) bipolymer, alternatively an ethylene-vinyl propionate bipolymer, alternatively an ethylene-vinyl butanoate bipolymer. The EVA bipolymer consists essentially of ethylene-derived monomeric units and vinyl acetate-derived comonomeric units. The vinyl acetate comonomeric unit content of the EVA bipolymer may be from > <NUM> to < <NUM> wt%, alternatively from > <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from > <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% based on total weight of the EVA bipolymer. The wt% values are on average per molecule of the EVA. Alternatively or additionally, the (A) (e.g., EVA bipolymer) may have a melt index (<NUM>° C. , <NUM>) of from <NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM>. , alternatively <NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM>. measured by ASTM D1238-<NUM>.

The unsaturated carboxylic ester comonomer used to make the ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic ester copolymer embodiment of the (A) olefin-based (co)polymer may be a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl (meth)acrylate and the ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic ester copolymer is an ethylene-(C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer (EAA), which may have a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl (meth)acrylate comonomeric content from > <NUM> to < <NUM> wt%, alternatively from > <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from > <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, based on total weight of the ethylene-(C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer. In some aspects the (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl may be a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl, (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl, or (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl. The EAA consists essentially of ethylene-derived monomeric units and one or more different types of (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl (meth)acrylate-derived comonomeric units such as ethyl acrylate and/or ethyl methacrylate comonomeric units. The (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl may be methyl, ethyl, <NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylethyl, butyl, or <NUM>-ethylhexyl. The (meth)acrylate may be acrylate, methacrylate, or a combination thereof. The (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl (meth)acrylate may be ethyl acrylate and the EAA may be ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer (EEA) or the (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl (meth)acrylate may be ethyl methacrylate and the EAA may be ethylene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer (EEMA). The ethyl acrylate or ethyl methacrylate comonomeric unit content of EEA or EEMA, respectively, may independently be from > <NUM> to < <NUM> wt%, alternatively from > <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from > <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% based on total weight of the EEA or EEMA bipolymer.

The olefin-functional hydrolyzable silane comonomer used to make the ethylene/olefin-functional hydrolyzable silane copolymer embodiment of the (A) olefin-based (co)polymer may the hydrolyzable silane monomer of paragraph [<NUM>] of <CIT> (<CIT>; or of <CIT> The olefin-functional hydrolyzable silane may be grafted (post-reactor) onto the copolymer embodiment of the (A). Alternatively, the olefin-functional hydrolyzable silane may be copolymerized with ethylene and the comonomer to directly make the copolymer embodiment containing hydrolyzable silyl groups. In some aspects the olefin-functional hydrolyzable silane is vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES), vinyltriacetoxysilane, or gamma-(meth)acryloxy propyl trimethoxy silane and the hydrolyzable silyl groups are <NUM>-trimethoxysilylethyl, <NUM>-triethoxysilylethyl, <NUM>-triacetoxysilylethyl, or <NUM>-trimethoxysilylpropyloxycarbonylethyl or <NUM>-trimethoxysilylpropyloxycarbonylpropyl.

The (A) olefin-based (co)polymer may be a blend of two or more different olefin-based (co)polymers or a reactor product of polymerization reactions with two or more different catalysts. The (A) olefin-based (co)polymer may be made in two or more reactors, such as ELITE™ polymers from The Dow Chemical Company.

The (A) olefin-based (co)polymer may be made by any conventional or hereafter discovered production process, many are already known in the art, comprising one or more polymerization reactions. For example, the LDPE may be prepared using a high pressure polymerization process. Alternatively, the LDPE may be prepared using a coordination polymerization process conducted using one or more polymerization catalysts such as Ziegler-Natta, chromium oxide, metallocene, post-metallocene catalysts. Suitable temperatures are from <NUM>° to <NUM>° C. , or <NUM>° or <NUM>° C. Suitable pressures are from atmospheric pressure (<NUM> kPa) to <NUM>,<NUM> atmospheres (approximately <NUM>,<NUM> MegaPascals ("MPa")). In most polymerization reactions, the molar ratio of catalyst to polymerizable olefins (monomer/comonomer) employed is from <NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM> , or from <NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM>.

The inventive formulation contains at least one (A) olefin-based (co)polymer. The amount of the (A) olefin-based (co)polymer(s) in the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation may be from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%. alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation.

Constituent (B): poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer (PAOZ (co)polymer). A poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (PAOZ) homopolymer or a poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (PAOZ) copolymer.

The PAOZ homopolymer consists essentially of, alternatively consists of, (a) monomeric units derived from <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline monomer wherein the alkyl group is the same in each monomeric unit; and (b) <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>; alternatively <NUM>; alternatively <NUM> or <NUM>; alternatively <NUM>; alternatively <NUM> terminal groups independently selected from Y<NUM> and Y<NUM>. Each terminal group Y<NUM> and Y<NUM> may be independently selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, benzyl, hydroxyl, azido, amino, piperazinyl, <NUM>-hydroxyethylamino, and thiol (-SH). The (B) poly(<NUM>-ethyl-oxazoline) (co)polymer may be a bis-terminated (alpha- and omega-terminated) poly(<NUM>-ethyl-oxazoline) homopolymer wherein each terminal group Y<NUM> and Y<NUM> may be independently selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, benzyl, hydroxyl, azido, amino, piperazinyl, <NUM>-hydroxyethylamino, and thiol (-SH); alternatively from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and benzyl; alternatively hydroxyl. The PAOZ homopolymer may be made by cationic ring-opening polymerization of a <NUM>-alkyl-oxazoline monomer. The (B) PAOZ (co)polymer may be a poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer, alternatively a poly(<NUM>-(C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer, alternatively a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer, having a Mw of <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/mol and a ÐM of from <NUM> to <NUM>.

An example of a poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer is a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer ("PEOZ") of formula (B-a):
<CHM>
wherein subscript n is an integer of greater than <NUM>, e.g., from <NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>.

Commercially available poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymers include (B1) to (B9): (B1) a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of <NUM>,<NUM> (subscript n = <NUM> in above formula (B-a)) and a molecular mass dispersity, ÐM, of ≤ <NUM>, as product no. <NUM>; (B2) a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a Mn of <NUM>,<NUM> (subscript n = <NUM> in above formula (B-a)) and a ÐM of ≤ <NUM>, as product no. <NUM>; (B3) a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a Mn of <NUM>,<NUM> (subscript n = <NUM> in above formula (B-a)) and a ÐM of ≤ <NUM>, as product no. <NUM>; (B4) a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a Mn of <NUM>,<NUM> (subscript n = <NUM> in above formula (B-a)) and a ÐM of ≤ <NUM>, as ULTROXA product no. <NUM>; (B5) a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of about <NUM>,<NUM> and a molecular mass dispersity, ÐM, of from <NUM> to <NUM>, as product no. <NUM>; (B6) a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a Mw of about <NUM>,<NUM> and a ÐM of from <NUM> to <NUM>, as product no. <NUM>; (B7) a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a Mw of about <NUM>,<NUM> and a ÐM of from <NUM> to <NUM>, as product no. <NUM>; (B8) a poly(<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a Mn of about <NUM>,<NUM> and a ÐM of ≤ <NUM>, as product no. <NUM>; and (B9) a poly(<NUM>-propyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a Mn of <NUM>,<NUM> and a ÐM of ≤ <NUM>, as ULTROXA product no. (B1) to (B9) are available from Sigma-Aldrich. The poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer may be any one or more of (B1) to (B9); alternatively any one or more of (B1) to (B7); alternatively any one or more of (B8) to (B9); alternatively (B5) or (B7); alternatively (B1); alternatively (B2); alternatively (B3); alternatively (B4); alternatively (B5); alternatively (B6); alternatively (B7); alternatively (B8); alternatively (B9). The poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer may be selected from any <NUM> of (B1) to (B9); alternatively from any <NUM> of (B1) to (B7); alternatively from any <NUM> of (B8) to (B9). Other commercially available poly(<NUM>-ethyl-oxazoline) homopolymers have one or two terminal groups Y<NUM> and Y<NUM>. Examples of terminated poly(<NUM>-ethyl-oxazoline) homopolymers, containing terminal groups one or two terminal groups Y<NUM> and Y<NUM>, are available from Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.

The poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) copolymer may be homomeric or heteromeric in its monomer content versus comonomer content. The homomeric PAOZ copolymer consists essentially of, alternatively consists of, (a) monomeric units derived from monomer <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline; and (b) comonomeric units derived from at least one <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline comonomer, which is different than the <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline monomer such that the alkyl group in the monomeric units is different than the alkyl group(s) in the comonomeric units; and (c) <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>; alternatively <NUM>; alternatively <NUM> or <NUM>; alternatively <NUM>; alternatively <NUM> terminal groups independently selected from Y<NUM> and Y<NUM>, wherein Y<NUM> and Y<NUM> are as defined above.

The heteromeric poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) copolymer comprises (a) from <NUM> to < <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% monomeric units derived from monomer <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline; and (b) from > <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% comonomeric units derived from a cationic ring-opening polymerizable comonomer that is not a <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline; and (c) <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>; alternatively <NUM>; alternatively <NUM> or <NUM>; alternatively <NUM>; alternatively <NUM> terminal groups independently selected from Y<NUM> and Y<NUM>, wherein Y<NUM> and Y<NUM> are as defined above. Examples of the cationic ring-opening polymerizable comonomer that is not a <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline are a <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline such as <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trimethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline or2-(<NUM>'-methoxyphenyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline; ethylene oxide; and a dialkoxydimethylsilane. Examples of their corresponding heteromeric poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) copolymers are poly((<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline)-co-(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline)) copolymer; poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer; and poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) triblock copolymer. , synthesis of poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer; and poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) triblock copolymer are shown in the dissertation <NPL>.

The PAOZ copolymer may be made by cationic ring-opening polymerization of a <NUM>-alkyl-oxazoline monomer and <NUM>, or more cationic ring-opening polymerizable comonomer(s), wherein each comonomer independently is (a) a <NUM>-alkyl-oxazoline comonomer, which is different than the <NUM>-alkyl-oxazoline monomer; or (b) the cationic ring-opening polymerizable comonomer that is not a <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline. The PAOZ copolymer may be characterized by its arrangement of monomeric and comonomeric units. The arrangement may be characterized as being random, gradient, quasi-diblock, or block. The block arrangement may be a diblock, triblock, or tetrablock. In a one-pot cationic ring-opening polymerization reaction, the arrangement of monomeric and comonomeric units in the PAOZ copolymer may be a function of the relative nucleophilicities of the monomer and comonomer(s) from which the PAOZ copolymer is made. The relative nucleophilicities of the monomer and comonomer(s) result in the monomer and comonomer(s) reacting at, and thus being consumed at, same (similar) or different reaction rates in the cationic ring-opening polymerization reaction. If the relative nucleophilicities of the monomer and comonomer(s), and thus their rates of being consumed, are the same or substantially the same, and the monomer and comonomer(s) are added at the same time to the pot, the polymerization product may be a random PAOZ copolymer. If the relative nucleophilicities of the monomer and comonomer(s) differ significantly and the monomer and comonomer(s) are added at the same time to the pot, the polymerization product may be a quasi-block PAOZ copolymer. If the relative nucleophilicities of the monomer and comonomer(s) differ significantly and the monomer and comonomer(s) are added at different times to the pot, the polymerization product may be a gradient or block PAOZ copolymer, depending on whether some unreacted monomer and comonomer(s) are present in the pot together in varying amounts or are not present together.

The (B) poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer may be synthesized by cationically polymerizing the corresponding <NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline compound by known methods. Examples of such methods are found in <NPL>. , a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-oxazoline) polymer of formula (B-a), wherein subscript n is from <NUM> to <NUM> may be synthesized by heating <NUM>-ethyl-oxazoline with methyl triflate (CF<NUM>SO<NUM>CH<NUM>) with stirring.

The (B) poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer may have a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) from <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>, alternatively from <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>, alternatively from <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>, alternatively from <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>, alternatively from <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>, as calculated from a Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation, [η] = KMα, wherein M is molecular weight, K is <NUM>×<NUM>-<NUM>, α is <NUM>; and [η] is intrinsic viscosity as measured by ASTM D2857. The K and α values were measured for a standard poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) at temperature <NUM> Kelvin and are reported in<NPL>or. See also <NPL>.

The inventive formulation contains at least one (B) poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer. The (B) PAOZ (co)polymer(s) may be <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation.

The constituent (C) antioxidant. The (C) antioxidant functions to provide antioxidizing properties to the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation and/or peroxide-cured semiconducting product. The (C) may be a hindered phenol (e.g., tetrakis [methylene (<NUM>,<NUM>-di-t-butyl-<NUM>-hydroxyhydrocinnamate)] methane), a phosphite, a phosphonite (e.g., tris (<NUM>,<NUM>-di-t-butylphenyl) phosphate), a thio compound (e.g., dilaurylthiodipropionate), or an antioxidizing amine (e.g., an oligomeric amine, a hindered amine, or a polyamine such as a polymerized <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trimethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroquinoline). Examples of suitable (C) are bis(<NUM>-(<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-phenylethyl)phenyl)amine (e.g., NAUGARD <NUM>); <NUM>,<NUM>'-methylene-bis(<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-t-butylphenol) (e.g., VANOX MBPC); <NUM>,<NUM>'-thiobis(<NUM>-t-butyl-<NUM>-methylphenol (<NPL>, commercially LOWINOX TBM-<NUM>); <NUM>,<NUM>'-thiobis(<NUM>-t-butyl-<NUM>-methylphenol (<NPL>, commercially LOWINOX TBP-<NUM>); tris[(<NUM>-tert-butyl-<NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylphenyl)methyl]-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-triazine-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trione (e.g., CYANOX <NUM>); pentaerythritol tetrakis(<NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>-bis(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylethyl)-<NUM>-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (e.g., IRGANOX <NUM>, <NPL>); <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylethyl)-<NUM>-hydroxybenzenepropanoic acid <NUM>,<NUM>'- thiodiethanediyl ester (e.g., IRGANOX <NUM>, <NPL>); and distearyl thiodipropionate ("DSTDP"). In some aspects (C) is bis(<NUM>-(<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-phenylethyl)phenyl)amine (e.g., NAUGARD <NUM>, which is available from Addivant, Danbury, Connecticut, U. The inventive formulation contains at least one (C) antioxidant. The total amount of the (C) antioxidant(s) may be <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation.

In aspects wherein the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation comprises at least one optional additive, the amount(s) of such optional additive(s) is/are chosen in such a way so as to not negate or counteract the aforementioned advantage(s) or benefit(s).

The optional constituent (D):organic peroxide: a compound containing one or two C-O-O-C groups and lacking -O-O-H. A (D) organic monoperoxide is of formula RO-O-O-RO, wherein each RO independently is a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group or (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)aryl group. Each (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl group independently is unsubstituted or substituted with <NUM> or <NUM> (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)aryl groups. Each (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)aryl group is unsubstituted or substituted with <NUM> to <NUM> (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkyl groups. A (D) organic diperoxide is of formula RO-O-O-R-O-O-RO, wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon group such as a (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)alkylene, (C<NUM>-C<NUM>)cycloalkylene, or phenylene, and each RO is as defined above. The (D) organic peroxide may be bis(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylethyl) peroxide; bis(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylpropyl) peroxide; <NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-bis(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylethylperoxy) hexane; <NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-bis(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylethylperoxy) hexyne; <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylethylperoxy) valeric acid; butyl ester; <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylethylperoxy)-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trimethylcyclohexane; benzoyl peroxide; tert-butyl peroxybenzoate; di-tert-amyl peroxide ("DTAP"); bis(alpha-t-butyl-peroxyisopropyl) benzene ("BIPB"); isopropylcumyl t-butyl peroxide; t-butylcumylperoxide; di-t-butyl peroxide; <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(t-butylperoxy)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylhexane; <NUM>,<NUM>-bis(t-butylperoxy)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylhexyne-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-bis(t-butylperoxy)-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trimethylcyclohexane; isopropylcumyl cumylperoxide; butyl <NUM>,<NUM>-di(tert-butylperoxy) valerate; or di(isopropylcumyl) peroxide; or dicumyl peroxide. The (D) organic peroxide may be dicumyl peroxide. A blend of two or more (D) organic peroxides may be used, e.g., a <NUM>:<NUM> (wt/wt) blend of t-butyl cumyl peroxide and bis(t-butyl peroxy isopropyl)benzene (e.g., LUPEROX D446B, which is commercially available from Arkema). In some aspects at least one, alternatively each (D) organic peroxide contains one -O-O- group. In some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation and crosslinked polyolefin product is free of (D). When present, the inventive formulation contains at least one (D) organic peroxide, and the total amount of the (D) organic peroxide(s) may be <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation. The weight/weight ratio of (C) antioxidant to all (D) organic peroxide, if any, is from > <NUM> to less than <NUM> ((C)/(D) (wt/wt) is from > <NUM> to < <NUM>).

The optional constituent (E) stabilizer. A particulate solid having an average particle size of <NUM> to <NUM> nanometers (nm). (E) may be a hydrophobized fumed silica such as those commercially available under the CAB-O-SIL trade name from Cabot Corporation. The (E) UV stabilizer may also have flame retardant effects. In some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation and crosslinked polyolefin product is free of (E). When present, the inventive formulation contains at least one (E) stabilizer, and the total amount of the (E) stabilizer(s) may be from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt of the inventive formulation.

The optional constituent (F) scorch retardant. A molecule that inhibits premature curing, or a collection of such molecules. Examples of a scorch retardant are hindered phenols; semihindered phenols; TEMPO; TEMPO derivatives; <NUM>,<NUM>-diphenylethylene; <NUM>,<NUM>-diphenyl-<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-pentene (also known as alpha-methyl styrene dimer or AMSD); and allyl-containing compounds described in <CIT>, column <NUM>, line <NUM>, to column <NUM>, line <NUM>. In some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation and crosslinked polyolefin product is free of (F). When present, the inventive formulation contains at least one (F) scorch retardant, and the total amount of the (F) scorch retardant(s) may be from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation.

The optional constituent (G) alkenyl-functional coagent. A molecule that contains a backbone or ring substructure and one, alternatively two or more propenyl, acrylate, and/or vinyl groups bonded thereto, wherein the substructure is composed of carbon atoms and optionally nitrogen atoms, or a collection of such molecules. The (G) conventional coagent may be free of silicon atoms. The (G) alkenyl-functional coagent may be a propenyl-functional conventional coagent as described by any one of limitations (i) to (v): (i) (G) is <NUM>-allylphenyl allyl ether; <NUM>-isopropenyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylphenyl allyl ether; <NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>-allylphenyl allyl ether; <NUM>-methoxy-<NUM>-allylphenyl allyl ether; <NUM>,<NUM>'-diallyl bisphenol A; O,O'-diallyl bisphenol A; or tetramethyl diallylbisphenol A; (ii) (G) is <NUM>,<NUM>-diphenyl-<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-pentene or <NUM>,<NUM>-diisopropenylbenzene; (iii) (G) is triallyl isocyanurate ("TAIC"); triallyl cyanurate ("TAC"); triallyl trimellitate ("TATM"); N,N,N',N',N",N"-hexaallyl-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-triazine-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-triamine ("HATATA"; also known as N<NUM>,N<NUM>,N<NUM>,N<NUM>,N<NUM>,N<NUM>-hexaallyl-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-triazine-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-triamine); triallyl orthoformate; pentaerythritol triallyl ether; triallyl citrate; or triallyl aconitate; (iv) (G) is a mixture of any two of the propenyl-functional coagents in (i). Alternatively, the (G) may be an acrylate-functional conventional coagent selected from trimethylolpropane triacrylate ("TMPTA"), trimethylolpropane trimethylacrylate ("TMPTMA"), ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate, <NUM>,<NUM>-hexanediol diacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, tris(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl) isocyanurate triacrylate, and propoxylated glyceryl triacrylate. Alternatively, the (G) may be a vinyl-functional conventional coagent selected from polybutadiene having at least <NUM> wt% <NUM>,<NUM>-vinyl content and trivinyl cyclohexane ("TVCH"). Alternatively, the (G) may be a conventional coagent described in <CIT> or <CIT>. Alternatively, the (G) may be a combination or any two or more of the foregoing coagents. In some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation and crosslinked polyolefin product is free of (G). When present, the inventive formulation contains at least one (G) coagent, and the total amount of the (G) coagent(s) may be <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation.

The optional constituent (H) nucleating agent. An organic or inorganic additive that that enhances the rate of crystallization of a polyolefin polymer. Examples of (L) are calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, potassium hydrogen phthalate, benzoic acid compounds, sodium benzoate compounds, disodium bicyclo[<NUM>. <NUM>]heptane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dicarboxylate, zinc monoglycerolate, and <NUM>,<NUM>-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, calcium salt:zinc stearate. In some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation and crosslinked polyolefin product is free of (H). When present, the inventive formulation contains at least one (H) nucleating agent, and the total amount of the (H) nucleating agent(s) may be in a concentration of from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation.

The optional constituent (I) processing aid. Examples of (I) are fluoroelastomers. In some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation and crosslinked polyolefin product is free of (I). When present, the inventive formulation contains at least one (I) processing aid, and the total amount of the (I) processing aid(s) may be from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation.

The optional constituent (J) extender oil. Examples of (J) are mineral oils, paraffin oil, and combinations thereof. In some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation and crosslinked polyolefin product is free of (J). When present, the inventive formulation contains at least one (J) extender oil, and the total amount of the (J) extender oil(s) may be from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation.

The optional constituent (K) nanoparticles. Examples of (K) are nanoparticulate forms of magnesium oxide (MgO), organomontmorillontie, silica, and combinations thereof. As used herein, the (K) nanoparticles have average diameters of from <NUM> to <NUM> nanometers (nm) as measured by Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing (TRPS). The (K) nanoparticles may be uncoated, alternatively coated with a coating material such as a hydrophobic silicon-based coating material. In some aspects the (K) is silica nanoparticles having an average diameter from <NUM> to <NUM> as measured in water according to ERM-FD100, <NPL>. In some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation and crosslinked polyolefin product is free of (K). When present, the inventive formulation contains at least one (K) nanoparticles material, and the total amount of the (K) nanoparticles material(s) may be from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation.

The optional constituent (L) carbon black. Examples of (L) are Printex XE2 carbon black (DeGussa), Black Pearls <NUM> carbon black (Cabot Corp. ), Vulcan XC <NUM> carbon black (Cabot Corp. ), Ketjenblack EC600JD carbon black (Akzo), Vulcan P carbon black (Cabot Corp. ), United <NUM> carbon black (Cabot Corp. ), Denka Black carbon black (Denka), Vulcan XC <NUM> carbon black, and Acetylene Black AB <NUM>%-<NUM> carbon black (Soltex). In some aspects the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation and crosslinked polyolefin product is free of (L). When present, the inventive formulation contains at least one (L) carbon black, and the total amount of the (L) carbon black(s) may be from <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, alternatively <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of the inventive formulation.

Optional additives (D) to (L) may be used to impart to either to the inventive formulation and/or inventive product one or more beneficial properties. Additives (D) to (L) are distinct compounds/materials from constituents (A) to (C) and from each other.

The polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation independently may not, alternatively may further comprise <NUM> to <NUM> wt% each of one or more secondary optional additives selected from a carrier resin, a corrosion inhibitor (e.g., SnSO<NUM>), a lubricant, an antiblocking agent, a slip agent, a plasticizer, a tackifier, a surfactant, an acid scavenger, a voltage stabilizer, a metal deactivator, and a water-tree growth retardant other than constituent (B). The water-tree growth retardant other than (B) may be a polyethylene glycol (e.g., PEG <NUM>), which if used is at a low enough concentration to avoid any negative impact on dissipation factor of the formulation.

Any optional additives (D) to (L) and any secondary optional additives may be added in place of a corresponding amount of constituent (A) in the inventive formulation, with the proviso that the amount of (A) in the formulation is as described earlier, e.g., at least <NUM> wt%, alternatively at least <NUM> wt%, alternatively at least <NUM> wt%.

The total concentration of all constituents in the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation is <NUM> wt%.

The crosslinked polyolefin product (inventive product): contains networked polyolefinic resins that contain C-C bond crosslinks formed during curing of the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation. The crosslinked polyolefin product is made by coupling the constituents (A), (B), (C), and optionally (G) alkenyl-functional coagent in the presence of the (D) organic peroxide. Alternatively, the crosslinked polyolefin product may be made by irradiation curing of constituents (A), (B), (C), and optionally (G) in the absence of the (D) organic peroxide. The crosslinked polyolefin product may also contain by-products of curing such as alcohol products of the reaction of the (D) organic peroxide. When the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation further contains one or more of any other optional additives (E), (F), and (H) to (L), the crosslinked polyolefin product may also contain the additive(s) or reaction by-products formed therefrom during the curing. The crosslinked polyolefin product may be in a divided solid form or in continuous form. The continuous form may be a molded part (e.g., blow molded part) or an extruded part (e.g., an insulation layer of an insulated electrical conductor).

The crosslinked polyolefin product (inventive product) may be a networked polyolefinic resin containing crosslinking groups that are formed during curing of the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation. The crosslinking groups may comprise C-C bonds or Si-O-Si bonds. The Si-O-Si bonds may be formed during curing of embodiments of the inventive formulation wherein constituent (A) contains hydrolyzable silane groups. A condensation catalyst, such as a Brønsted-Lowry acid, a Lewis acid, or an amine, may be used to enhance the rate of formation of the Si-O-Si bonds during curing.

Insulated electrical conductors comprise a conductive core covered by an insulation layer. The conductive core may be solid or stranded (e.g., a bundle of wires). Some insulated electrical conductors may also contain one or more additional elements such as semiconducting layer(s) and/or a protective jacket (e.g., wound wire, tape, or sheath). Examples are coated metal wires and electrical power cables, including those for use in low voltage ("LV", > <NUM> to < <NUM> kilovolts (kV)), medium voltage ("MV", <NUM> to < <NUM> kV), high voltage ("HV", <NUM> to <NUM> kV) and extra-high voltage ("EHV", > <NUM> kV) electricity-transmitting/distributing applications. Evaluations of power cables may use standards and/or IEC test methods.

The insulated electrical conductor: may be a coated metal wire or electrical cable, including power cable for use in low, medium, high and extra-high voltage electricity-transmitting applications. "Wire" means a single strand or filament of conductive material, e.g., conductive metal such as copper or aluminum, or a single strand or filament of optical fiber. "Power cable" means an insulated electrical conductor comprising at least one wire disposed within a covering that may be referred to as an insulation layer. Examples of suitable cable designs are shown in <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

The insulated electrical conductor may contain a conductive core and an outer single layer covering or an outer multilayer covering disposed therearound so as to protect and insulate the conductor core from external environments. The conductive core may be composed of one or more metal wires. When the conductive core is "stranded", it contains two or more metal wires, which may be sub-divided into discrete wire bundles. Each wire in the conductive core, whether bundled or not, may be individually coated with an insulation layer and/or the discrete bundles may be coated with an insulation layer. The single layer covering or multilayer covering (e.g., a single layer or multilayer coating or sheath) primarily functions to protect or insulate the conductive core from external environments such as sunlight, water, heat, oxygen, other conductive materials (e.g., to prevent short-circuiting), and/or other corrosive materials.

The single layer or multilayer covering from one insulated electrical conductor to the next may be configured differently depending upon their respective intended uses. For example, viewed in cross-section, the multilayer covering of the insulated electrical conductor may be configured sequentially from its innermost layer to its outermost layer with the following components: an inner semiconducting layer (in physical contact with the conductive core), an insulation layer comprising the crosslinked polyolefin product (inventive crosslinked product), an outer semiconducting layer, a metal shield, and a protective sheath. The layers and sheath are circumferentially and coaxially (longitudinally) continuous. The metal shield (ground) is coaxially continuous, and circumferentially either continuous (a layer) or discontinuous (tape or wire). The outer semiconducting layer, when present, may be composed of a peroxide-crosslinked semiconducting product that may be strippable from the insulation layer.

The method of conducting electricity: may use the inventive insulated electrical conductor or a different electrical conductor that includes the inventive formulation or product.

The inventive insulated electrical conductor is useful for data-transmitting applications and/or for electricity-transmitting applications, including low, medium, high, and ultra-high voltage applications. Ideally a power cable containing an insulation layer composed of the inventive formulation has a longer operating lifetime at higher voltages in outdoor environments.

A compound includes all its isotopes and natural abundance and isotopically-enriched forms. The enriched forms may have medical or anti-counterfeiting uses.

In some aspects any material (compound, composition, formulation, mixture, or reaction product) herein may be free of any one of the chemical elements selected from the group consisting of: H, Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, I, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, lanthanoids, and actinoids; with the proviso that chemical elements required by the material (e.g., C and H required by a polyolefin or C, H, and O required by an alcohol) are not excluded.

Any species of the claimed invention that is found in the prior art is hereby excluded.

The following apply unless indicated otherwise. Alternatively precedes a distinct embodiment. AEIC means Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. ASTM means the standards organization, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA. IEC means the standards organization, International Electrotechnical Commission, Geneva, Switzerland. ISO means the standards organization, International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland. Any comparative example is used for illustration purposes only and shall not be prior art. Free of or lacks means a complete absence of; alternatively not detectable. ICEA means Insulated Cable Engineers Association and standards promulgated by IHS Markit, London, England. IUPAC is International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC Secretariat, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA). May confers a permitted choice, not an imperative. Operative means functionally capable or effective. Optional(ly) means is absent (or excluded), alternatively is present (or included). Unless said otherwise properties are measured using a standard test method and conditions for the measuring. Ranges include endpoints, subranges, and whole and/or fractional values subsumed therein; but a range of integers does not include fractional values. Room temperature: <NUM>° C. ± <NUM>° C. Substituted when referring to a compound means in place of a hydrogen atom.

Polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation Preparation Method <NUM>. Prepares embodiments of the polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation that are free of (D) organic peroxide. Feed constituent (A) as pellets into a Brabender internal mixer at <NUM>° C. with rotor speed set at <NUM> rotations per minute (rpm) for up to <NUM> minutes. To the resulting melt feed constituents (B) and (C) to give a first inventive polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation consisting essentially of constituents (A), (B), and (C). To the first inventive polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation was added any non-peroxide optional additives (E) to (L), and mix at <NUM>° C. and <NUM> rpm for <NUM> minutes to obtain a second inventive polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation as a uniform dispersion of (A), (B), (C), and any (E) to (L). Proceed with the second inventive polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation to Pellets Preparation Method <NUM>.

Pellets Preparation Method <NUM>. Feed the second inventive polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation prepared by Polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation Preparation Method <NUM> into a hopper of a Brabender single screw extruder, and extrude a melt of the composition at <NUM>° C. with a screw speed of <NUM> rpm to give the composition as a melt strand. Feed the melt strand into a Brabender Pelletizer to give the second inventive polyolefin- and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation in the form of pellets. Proceed with the pellets of second inventive polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation to Soaking Method <NUM>.

Soaking Method <NUM>. Add <NUM> grams (g) of the pellets of the second inventive polyolefin- and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation prepared in the Pellets Preparation Method <NUM> and <NUM> of (D) organic peroxide (e.g., (D1) dicumyl peroxide) into a <NUM> milliliter volume, fluorinated high density polyethylene (F-HDPE) bottle. Seal the bottle containing the pellets and (D) tightly. Allow the (D) organic peroxide to soak into the pellets at <NUM>° C. for <NUM> hours, shaking the sealed bottle at <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> minutes, to give a third inventive polyolefin-and- poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation as soaked pellets comprising constituents (A) to (D) and any optional non-peroxide additives (E) to (L). Store the soaked pellets in the F-HDPE bottle at <NUM>° C. until needed for testing.

Crosslinked Polyolefin Product and Compression Molded Plaque Preparation Method <NUM>: Prepares compression molded plaques of crosslinked polyolefin product for dissipation factor testing. Sandwich <NUM> of the soaked pellets prepared by Soaking Method <NUM> between two <NUM>-millimeter (mm) thick poly(ethylene terephthalate) films to give a sandwich. Place the sandwich into a mold having the following dimensions: <NUM> x <NUM> x <NUM>. Place the mold containing the sandwich between upper and lower plates of a hot press machine and mold at <NUM>° C. and <NUM> megapascals (MPa) applied pressure for <NUM> minutes to give a preheated mold. Hold the mold at <NUM>° C. under <NUM> MPa for <NUM> minute, then at <NUM> C. under <NUM> MPa for <NUM> minute. Vent the mold <NUM> times, then hold the mold at <NUM>° C. under <NUM> MPa pressure for approximately <NUM> minutes to give additional curing to give a crosslinked polyolefin product. Cool the mold from <NUM>° to <NUM>° C. under <NUM> MPa within <NUM> minutes, and remove the crosslinked polyolefin product, which is in the form of a compression-molded plaque. Test dissipation factor according to the below method.

Crosslinking Time (T90) Test Method (MDR: ML at <NUM>° C. (N-m), MDR: MH-ML at <NUM>° C. (N-m)): ASTM D5289-<NUM>, Standard Test Method for Rubber Property-Vulcanization Using Rotorless Cure Meters. Measure torque of a <NUM> grams cold pressed test sample using the following procedure. Heat test sample, obtained directly from a Brabender mixing bowl, in a moving die rheometer (MDR) instrument MDR2000 (Alpha Technologies) at <NUM>° C. for <NUM> minutes at <NUM> degrees arc oscillation, while monitoring change in torque. Designate the lowest measured torque value as "ML", expressed in deciNewton-meter (dN-m). As curing or crosslinking progresses, the measured torque value increases, eventually reaching a maximum torque value. Designate the maximum or highest measured torque value as "MH", expressed in dN-m. All other things being equal, the greater the MH torque value, the greater the extent of crosslinking. Determine the T90 crosslinking time as being the number of minutes required to achieve a torque value equal to <NUM>% of the difference MH minus ML (MH-ML), i.e., <NUM>% of the way from ML to MH. The shorter the T90 crosslinking time, i.e., the sooner the torque value gets <NUM>% of the way from ML to MH, the faster the curing rate of the test sample. Conversely, the longer the T90 crosslinking time, i.e., the more time the torque value takes to get <NUM>% of the way from ML to MH, the slower the curing rate of the test sample. Measured in pound-inches (lb. ), and converted to Newton-meter (N-m), wherein <NUM> lb. = <NUM> N-m.

Density Test Method: measured according to ASTM D792-<NUM>, Standard Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement, Method B (for testing solid plastics in liquids other than water, e.g., in liquid <NUM>-propanol). Report results in units of grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm<NUM>).

Dielectric Constant and Dissipation Factor Test Methods. Conduct tests according to ASTM D150-<NUM>, Standard Test Methods for AC Loss Characteristics and Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insulation, at <NUM> on a High Precision High Voltage Capacitance Bridge, QS87 from Shanghai Young Electrical Co. with an electrode containing specimen holder in an oven, the high voltage power was YG8Q from Shanghai Young Electrical Co. Test specimen is a cured (crosslinked) compression molded plaque prepared by Crosslinked Polyolefin Product and Compression Molded Plaque Preparation Method <NUM>. Degas the plaque in a vacuum oven at <NUM>° C. for <NUM> hours under atmospheric pressure. Trim test specimen, test thickness, and then sandwich between two electrodes in an oven at <NUM>° C. immediately after the electrode temperature reached <NUM>° C. Set potential at <NUM> kilovolts (kV), <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, <NUM> kV, and <NUM> kV (all at <NUM> Hertz) across the film; calculate electrical stress on the film as equal to the applied voltage across the film divided by the thickness of the film in millimeters (mm); and test dissipation factor ("DF") and relative permittivity (i.e., dielectric constant, εr). Obtain a dissipation factor (DF) curve at different electrical stress values, typically plotted over a range from <NUM> kV/mm to <NUM> kV/mm. From the curve, calculate the DF value for electrical stress equal to <NUM> kV/mm.

Melt index (<NUM>° C. , <NUM> kilograms (kg), "I<NUM>") Test Method: for ethylene-based (co)polymer is measured according to ASTM D1238-<NUM>, Standard Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Platometer, using conditions of <NUM>° C. /<NUM> kilograms (kg), formerly known as "Condition E" and also known as I<NUM>. Report results in units of grams eluted per <NUM> minutes (g/<NUM>. Propylene-based (co)polymer may be measured at <NUM>° C.

Migration Test Method. The migration additives could be observed by putting <NUM> grams (g) pellets into an unused transparent, self-sealing polyethylene bag and pressing the pellets <NUM> times to see any marks become stamped on the bag. If marks are observed record "yes" and if there are no observed marks record "no".

Scorch Time Test Method (MDR: ts1 at either <NUM>° C. or <NUM>° C. (minutes)): Scorch time or time to scorch (ts1) of a sample "X" is measured by MDR at <NUM>° C. and abbreviated ts1@<NUM>° C. Scorch time measured by MDR at <NUM>° C. is abbreviated ts1@<NUM>° C. Scorch time is measured on an Alpha Technologies Rheometer MDR 2000E according to ISO <NUM> as follows. Put <NUM> to <NUM> of test material (pellets) into the MDR 200E instrument. Torque is measured as a function of time from <NUM> (start) to <NUM> minutes at <NUM>° C. or from <NUM> (start) to <NUM> minutes at <NUM>° C. , respectively, and torque curve versus time is plotted. The ts1 is the length of time it takes from the start of the test (<NUM> minute) to observe an increase of <NUM> deciNewton-meter (dNm) in torque from the minimum value in the torque curve. Use the ts1@<NUM>° C. to characterize scorch resistance during melt processing processes (e.g., melt compounding or extrusion). Use MDR at <NUM>° C. to characterize curing potential (MH-ML) and curing speed (see Crosslinking Time (T90) Test Method above).

Water-Tree Growth Test Method: used method according to ASTM D6097-01a, Standard Test Method for Relative Resistance to Vented Water-Tree Growth in Solid Dielectric Insulating Materials. This test method covers the relative resistance to water-tree growth in solid translucent thermoplastic or crosslinked electrical insulating materials. It is especially applicable to extruded polymeric insulation materials useful in medium-voltage power cables. In summary, ten compression-molded disk specimens, each containing a controlled conical-shaped defect, are subjected to an applied voltage of <NUM> kilovolts (kV) at <NUM> kilohertz (kHz) and <NUM>° ± <NUM>° C. in an aqueous conductive solution of <NUM> Normal sodium chloride for <NUM> days. The controlled conical-shaped defect is created by a sharp needle with an included angle of <NUM>° and a tip radius of <NUM> micrometers (µm). The electrical stress at the defect tip is thereby enhanced and is estimated by the Mason's Hyperbolic point-to-plane stress enhancement equation. This enhanced electrical stress initiates the formation of a vented water-tree grown from the defect tip. Each of the resulting treed specimens so produced is stained and sliced. The water-tree length and point-to-plane specimen thickness are measured under a microscope and used to calculate a ratio that is defined as the resistance to water-tree growth.

Constituent (A1): a low density polyethylene having a density of <NUM> gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm<NUM>) and a melt index (I<NUM>) (ASTM D1238-<NUM>, <NUM>° C. , <NUM>) of <NUM> grams per <NUM> minutes (g/<NUM>. Available as product DXM-<NUM> from The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan, USA.

Constituent (B5): a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a Mw of <NUM>,<NUM>/mol and a ÐM of from <NUM> to <NUM>. From Sigma-Aldrich.

Constituent (B7): a poly(<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) homopolymer having a Mw of <NUM>,<NUM>/mol and a ÐM of from <NUM> to <NUM>. From Sigma-Aldrich.

Antioxidant (C1): the compound distearyl thiodipropionate (dioctadecyl <NUM>,<NUM>'-thiodipropionate, DSTDP). Cyanox STDP from Cytec Solvay Group.

Antioxidant (C2): the compound <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tris[[<NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylethyl)-<NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylphenyl]methyl]-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-triazine-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>)-trione. Product Cyanox <NUM> from Cytec Solvay Group.

Organic peroxide (D1): dicumyl peroxide. Fangruida, People's Republic of China.

Stabilizer (E1): the compound N,N'-bisformyl-N,N'-(<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetramethyl-<NUM>-piperidinyl)-hexamethylenediamine. BASF Product Uvinul <NUM>.

Another water-tree retardant (not (B)): Product PEG <NUM> from Clariant.

Comparative Examples <NUM> to <NUM> (CE1 to CE2): for each comparative example, prepare a comparative polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation according to Polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation Preparation Method <NUM>, Pellets Preparation Method <NUM>, and Soaking Method <NUM>, respectively, except omit constituent (B). For each comparative formulation prepared by Soaking Method <NUM>, prepare comparative crosslinked polyolefin products of CE1 to CE2 according to Crosslinked Polyolefin Product and Compression Molded Plaque Preparation Method <NUM>. Test according to the above methods. Composition. Composition and test results are reported below in Table <NUM>.

As shown by the data in Table <NUM>, CE1 to CE2, water tree length (WTL) describes the longitude of a water tree, the smaller value the better water tree retardant performance. DF is describing the electric energy dissipated by dielectric material, the smaller value the better. ML is the initial torque and MH is the final torque in heat curing, usually the larger MH the higher crosslinking density, and specific MH is needed in cable application. ts1 is the time used when torque increases <NUM> dNm, and T90 is the time used when torque reaches <NUM>% of final torque. ts1 and T90 are describing the curing speed. The ts1 at (@) <NUM>° C. characterizes scorch performance. The longer the ts1 @<NUM>° C. time, the better the scorch retardant performance. Power cable industry require minimum times for ts1 at <NUM>° C. Migration is describing the sweat out issue of additives, which should be prevented. CE1 is a non-water tree retardant example that shows poor water tree retardant performance, its water tree length (WTL) is <NUM>%, and satisfactory DF <NUM> %. CE2 uses an incumbent water tree retardant, and shows good water tree retardant performance, its water tree length (WTL) is <NUM> %, and poor DF <NUM>%.

Inventive Examples <NUM> to <NUM> (IE1 to IE4): for each inventive example, prepare a series of polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulations according to Polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation Preparation Method <NUM>, Pellets Preparation Method <NUM>, and Soaking Method <NUM>, respectively. For each polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation prepared by Soaking Method <NUM>, prepare crosslinked polyolefin products of IE1 to IE4 according to Crosslinked Polyolefin Product and Compression Molded Plaque Preparation Method <NUM>. Test according to the above methods. Composition and test results are reported below in Table <NUM>.

In Table <NUM>, the water tree length (WTL) of inventive IE1 to IE4 ranged from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, which show significant water tree retardant compared with that of non-water tree retardant example CE1. Some incumbent, non-inventive formulations, as represented by CE2, in the medium voltage market use PEG <NUM> as the only water tree retardant. CE2 has a WTL of <NUM>% and an inferior DF (DF=<NUM>%) compared with IE1 to IE4 (DF from <NUM>% to <NUM>%). All the inventive examples had no migration and showed good curing/scorch performance. The inventive formulation is useful as insulation layer of an electrical power cable.

Claim 1:
A polyolefin-and-poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) formulation comprising from <NUM> to <NUM> weight percent (wt%) of (A) an olefin-based (co)polymer; from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of (B) a poly(<NUM>-alkyl-<NUM>-oxazoline) (co)polymer; from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of (C) an antioxidant; and from <NUM> to <NUM> wt% of (D) an organic peroxide; with the proviso that the wt% of (A) = <NUM> wt% - wt% of (B) - wt% of (C) - wt% (D) - wt% of all other optional constituents, if any.