Patent ID: 8835548

Claim:
A process for the manufacture of crosslinked, melt-shaped articles, the process comprising the steps of: A. Forming a crosslinkable mixture comprising: 1. at most 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the crosslinkable mixture, of an organopolysiloxane containing two functional end groups which are hydroxyl groups, wherein the organopolysiloxane is a polydimethylsiloxane of the formula wherein Me is methyl and n is from 10 to 400; and 2. Silane-grafted polyethylene; B. Melt-shaping and partially crosslinking the mixture into an article; and C. Cooling the melt-shaped article; and D. Storing the melt-shaped article and continuing crosslinking without external moisture diffusion, wherein a crosslinking catalyst is added to the mixture before or during melt-shaping or to the melt-shaped article, wherein the melt-shaped article has a thickness of greater than 0.2 mm, and wherein the crosslinked, melt-shaped article passes the hot creep test (100% elongation) measured at 200° C., 0.2 MPa load held for 15 minutes in accordance with IEC 60811-2-1.