Curable semiconducting composition

A peroxide-curable semiconducting composition comprising 50 to 78 weight percent (wt %) of (A) a crosslinkable ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, having a vinyl acetate monomeric unit content of from 25 to 40 wt % (crosslinkable host copolymer);

• 20 to 48 wt % of (B) carbon black;
• 0.1 to 2.5 wt % of (C) an amide wax;
• 0.1 to 2.5 wt % of (D) a silicone oil;
• wherein the sum of wt % (C)+wt % (D) is from 1.0 to 5.0 wt %;
• 0.1 to 1.5 wt % of (E) an antioxidant comprising bis(4-(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)phenyl)amine;
• and 0.1 to 1.5 wt % of (F) an organic peroxide;
• wherein all wt % are based on total weight of the peroxide-curable semiconducting composition and wherein total weight of the peroxide-curable semiconducting composition is 100.0 wt %;
• wherein the composition is free of each of the following materials:
• nitrile butadiene rubber;
• ethylene-propylene-based rubber;
• a phenol;
• a quinone;
• a thiazole;
• a thiuram sulfide;
• and a hydrocarbon wax.