Process for cross-linked polyethylene production

A method of making a silane cross-linked maleated polyethylene prepared by the method consisting of the following steps in order:

• 1:
• a single mixing step wherein in the melt phase components consisting of a high density polyethylene (HDPE), maleic anhydride and a free radical initiator, wherein the free-radical initiator is dicetyl peroxydicarbonate, are mixed to form a maleated polyethylene;
• 2:
• removing volatiles in the maleated polyethylene;
• 3:
• melt blending the maleated polyethylene with with a silane monomer to form a silane-grafted polyethylene;
• 4:
• moisture crosslinking or moisture curing the silane-grafted polyethylene to form the silane cross-linked maleated polyethylene;
• wherein the silane-crosslinked maleated polyethylene comprises only one or two maleic anhydride groups on each side chain of the silane cross-linked maleated polyethylene, wherein a molar ratio of silane monomer to maleic anhydride ranges from about 2:1 to about 1:2 and the molar ratio of silane monomer to maleic anhydride on HDPE in the silane-grafted polyethylene is about 1:1.