Patent ID: 8192813

Claim:
A composition comprising crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) prepared by the method comprising: blending a polyethylene resin with a flexibilizing amount of a non-functionalized plasticizer (NFP) having a viscosity index greater than 120, kinematic viscosity of from 3 to 3000 cSt at 100° C., pour point less than −20° C., specific gravity less than 0.86, and flash point greater than 200° C., and wherein the NFP contains less than 5 weight percent of functional groups selected from hydroxide, aryls, substituted aryls, halogens, alkoxys, carboxylates, esters, acrylates, oxygen, nitrogen, and carboxyl, based upon the weight of the NFP, and wherein the number of carbons of the NFP involved in olefinic bonds is less than 5% of the total number of carbon atoms in the NFP; wherein the blend comprises less than 10 wt % of a propylene polymer having a melting point of 40° C. or more, by weight of the blend; processing the blend into a shape of an article; crosslinking the blend in the form of the shape.