# US 10,246,602 B2 · Polyolefin compounds for cable coatings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,602 B2 - Document ID: US10246602B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/544,179 - Filed: 2016-02-03 - Published: 2018-01-11 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-25 - Assignees: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation - Applicants: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology LLC - Inventors: Day-Chyuan Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246602B2 ## CPC - H01B 3/441: {from alkenes} - C09D 123/06: Polyethylene - G02B 6/02395: {Glass optical fibre with a protective coating, e.g. two layer polymer coating deposited directly on a silica cladding surface during fibre manufacture (G02B6/02052, G02B6/02057, G02B6/024, G02B6/032, G02B6/105, G02B6/14 take precedence; coating on fibre gratings G02B6/02104; multilayer core or cladding G02B6/036; reinforcing splice joints G02B6/2558; optical cables, i.e. comprising protective structures external to the protective coating such as a jacket or plural coated optical fibres G02B6/44; coating of glass to obtain optical fibres C03C25/104)} - H01B 3/446: {from vinylacetals} - H01B 3/448: {from other vinyl compounds} - H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K}) - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Polymeric compositions comprising a blend of high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”) with ethylene vinyl acetate (“EVA”), and optionally with a carbon black and/or one or more other additives, where the polymeric compositions have certain melt-index and vinyl-acetate-content ranges to improve melt strength and processability. Such polymeric compositions can be employed in manufacturing coated conductors, such as fiber optic cables. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A coated conductor comprising: (a) a conductor; and (b) a polymeric composition surrounding at least a portion of said conductor, wherein said polymeric composition comprises a high-density polyethylene and an ethylene vinyl acetate, wherein said polymeric composition has a vinyl acetate content in the range of from 1.5 to 8 weight percent, based on the combined weight of said high-density polyethylene and said ethylene vinyl acetate, wherein said polymeric composition has a melt index (I2) in the range of from 1.3 to 1.9 g/10 min., wherein said ethylene vinyl acetate has a vinyl acetate content in the range of from 18 to 28 weight percent, based on the total weight of said ethylene vinyl acetate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The coated conductor of claim 1, wherein said polymeric composition has a vinyl acetate content in the range of from 1.9 to 6.0 weight percent, based on the combined weight of said high-density polyethylene and said ethylene vinyl acetate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The coated conductor of claim 1, wherein said polymeric composition has a melt index (I2) in the range of from 1.4 to 1.88 g/10 minutes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The coated conductor of claim 1, wherein said polymeric composition has a high-shear viscosity (100 sec−1) that is at least 1% lower than the high-shear viscosity of an identical comparative polymeric composition, except that said comparative polymeric composition does not contain ethylene vinyl acetate, wherein said polymeric composition has a low-shear viscosity (0.1 sec−1) that is at least 1% higher than the low-shear viscosity of an identical comparative polymeric composition, except that said comparative polymeric composition does not contain ethylene vinyl acetate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The coated conductor of claim 1, wherein said ethylene vinyl acetate has a melt index (I2) in the range of from 0.7 to 6 g/10 minutes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The coated conductor of claim 1, wherein said high-density polyethylene is present in said polymeric composition in an amount ranging from 70 to 95 weight percent based on the combined weight of said high-density polyethylene and said ethylene vinyl acetate, wherein said ethylene vinyl acetate is present in an amount ranging from 5 to 30 weight percent based on the combined weight of said high-density polyethylene and said ethylene vinyl acetate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The coated conductor of claim 1, wherein said high-density polyethylene is a bimodal high-density polyethylene. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The coated conductor of claim 1, wherein said polymeric composition further comprises one or more additives selected from the group consisting of carbon blacks, carrier resins, flame retardants, processing aids, nucleating agents, foaming agents, crosslinking agents, fillers, pigments or colorants, coupling agents, antioxidants, ultraviolet stabilizers, tackifiers, scorch inhibitors, antistatic agents, slip agents, plasticizers, lubricants, viscosity control agents, anti-blocking agents, surfactants, extender oils, acid scavengers, metal deactivators, and vulcanizing agents. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The coated conductor of claim 1, wherein said polymeric composition is present in the form of a jacket surrounding said conductor, wherein said jacket has a thin-wall construction having a thickness in the range of from 10 to 30 mils. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The coated conductor of claim 1, wherein said coated conductor is a fiber optic cable. ### Claim 11 A coated conductor comprising: (a) a conductor; and (b) a polymeric composition at least partially surrounding said conductor, said polymeric composition consisting of: (i) a high-density polyethylene, (ii) an ethylene vinyl acetate, and (iii) optionally one or more additives selected from the group consisting of carbon blacks, carrier resins, flame retardants, processing aids, nucleating agents, foaming agents, fillers, pigments or colorants, coupling agents, antioxidants, ultraviolet stabilizers, tackifiers, scorch inhibitors, antistatic agents, slip agents, plasticizers, lubricants, viscosity control agents, anti-blocking agents, surfactants, extender oils, acid scavengers, metal deactivators, and vulcanizing agents, wherein said polymeric composition has a vinyl acetate content in the range of from 1.5 to 8 weight percent, based on the combined weight of said high-density polyethylene and said ethylene vinyl acetate, wherein said polymeric composition has a melt index (I2) of 2.0 g/10 minutes or less, wherein said ethylene vinyl acetate has a vinyl acetate content in the range of from 18 to 28 weight percent, based on the total weight of said ethylene vinyl acetate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The coated conductor of claim 11, wherein said polymeric composition has a vinyl acetate content in the range of from 1.9 to 6.0 weight percent, based on the combined weight of said high-density polyethylene and said ethylene vinyl acetate, wherein said polymeric composition has a melt index (I2) in the range of from 1.4 to 1.88 g/10 minutes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The coated conductor of claim 11, wherein said polymeric composition has a high-shear viscosity (100 sec−1) that is at least 1% lower than the high-shear viscosity of an identical comparative polymeric composition, except that said comparative polymeric composition does not contain ethylene vinyl acetate, wherein said polymeric composition has a low-shear viscosity (0.1 sec−1) that is at least 1% higher than the low-shear viscosity of an identical comparative polymeric composition, except that said comparative polymeric composition does not contain ethylene vinyl acetate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The coated conductor of claim 11, wherein said ethylene vinyl acetate has a melt index (I2) in the range of from 0.7 to 6 g/10 minutes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The coated conductor of claim 11, wherein said high-density polyethylene is present in said polymeric composition in an amount ranging from 70 to 90 weight percent based on the combined weight of said high-density polyethylene and said ethylene vinyl acetate, wherein said ethylene vinyl acetate is present in an amount ranging from 10 to 30 weight percent based on the combined weight of said high-density polyethylene and said ethylene vinyl acetate, wherein said high-density polyethylene is a bimodal high-density polyethylene.