Patent ID: 8283420

Claim:
A method for crosslinking a crosslinkable polyethylene composition comprising the steps of: providing a polyethylene component; providing a crosslinking agent, wherein said crosslinking agent being an organic peroxide; providing a crosslinking coagent, wherein said crosslinking coagent being a alkadiene, alkatriene, or alkatetraene compound, wherein said crosslinking coagent comprises at least two terminal carbon-carbon double bonds; melt blending said polyethylene component, said crosslinking agent, and said crosslinking agent; thereby forming said crosslinkable polyethylene composition; subjecting said crosslinkable polyethylene composition to heat thereby raising the temperature of said crosslinkable polyethylene composition to a temperature in the range of greater than the decomposition temperature of said crosslinking agent; thereby crosslinking said crosslinkable polyethylene composition and forming a crosslinked polyethylene composition, wherein said crosslinked polyethylene composition has a gel content in the range of from 83 to 90 weight percent based on the entire weight of said crosslinked polyethylene composition.