Cable comprising a silane crosslinkable polymer composition

A process for producing a cable comprising a conductor surrounded by at least one layer comprising a polymer composition which comprises

• (a) a polyolefin bearing hydrolysable silane groups and
• (b) a silanol condensation catalyst compound, wherein the silanol condensation catalyst compound (b) is an organic compound which comprises at least one nitrogen atom containing moiety, wherein said nitrogen atom containing moiety is other than a secondary amine moiety and wherein the organic compound has a molecular weight of less than 2000 g/mol, and
• wherein the silanol condensation catalyst compound (b) catalyzes crosslinking of silane groups via hydrolysis, and subsequent condensation reaction occurs in the presence of the silanol condensation catalyst compound (b);
• the process comprises adding the silanol condensation catalyst compound (b) to the polyolefin to produce the polymer composition;
• wherein the polyolefin is a polyethylene;
• wherein the process further comprises:
• (i) applying on a conductor at least an insulation layer comprising the polymer composition;
• or
• (ii) applying on a conductor an inner semiconductive layer comprising a first semiconductive composition, an insulation layer comprising an insulation composition, and an outer semiconductive layer comprising a second semiconductive composition, wherein, one of the inner semiconductive layer, the insulation layer, and the outer semiconductive layer comprises the polymer composition;
• wherein the silanol condensation catalyst compound (b) is selected from compounds of formula (Ia3) or (IIIa2):
• a compound of formula (Ia3) comprising:
• wherein each R9, R10 and R11 are independently is H, or an optionally substituted saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl which optionally contains one or more heteroatom(s) selected from (i) an optionally substituted linear or branched, saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl group;
• (ii) an optionally substituted linear or branched, saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl group which bears a saturated or partially unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbyl moiety or an optionally substituted linear or branched, saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl group which bears an aromatic hydrocarbyl moiety;
• or (iii) an optionally substituted saturated or partially unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbyl group;
• wherein, when present, the cyclic hydrocarbyl group of (iii) or the saturated or partially unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbyl moiety in the hydrocarbyl group of (ii) contains from 5 to 15 ring atoms;
• or
• a compound of formula (IIIa2) comprising:
• (R13)2N—(CH2)w—O—(CH2)p—O—(CH2)k—N(R14)2 (IIIa2),
• wherein w+p+k=3 to 20;
• and each R13 and each R14 is independently H or an unsubstituted linear or branched (C1-C30)alkyl group′.