Process for Preparing and Crosslinking a Cable Comprising a Polymer Composition and a Crosslinked Cable

A process for preparing a crosslinked cable, comprising the steps of:

• (i) applying one or more layers comprising a polymer composition on a conductor, wherein at least one layer comprises one or more free radical generating agents,
• (ii) crosslinking by radical reaction said at least one layer comprising said free radical generating agent(s),
• (iii) cooling the obtained crosslinked cable under pressurized conditions, and
• (iv) using the product of step (iii) as a cable (i.e. no degassing step takes place).

A process for preparing a crosslinked cable, comprising the steps of:

• (i) applying one or more layers comprising a polymer composition on a conductor, wherein at least one layer comprises one or more free radical generating agents,
• (ii) crosslinking by radical reaction said at least one layer comprising said free radical generating agent(s),
• (iii) cooling the obtained crosslinked cable under pressurized conditions, and
• (iv) reducing or removing the content of volatile decomposition products(s), at ambient or in elevated temperature, from said crosslinked cable obtained from said cooling step;
• wherein said one or more free radical generating agents is a compound of formula (I)
• wherein
• R1 and R1′ are each independently H, substituted or unsubstituted saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl;
• or substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbyl;
• wherein each of said substituted or unsubstituted saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl or aromatic hydrocarbyl optionally comprises one or more heteroatoms;
• and
• wherein said substituted saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl or substituted aromatic hydrocarbyl comprises independently 1 to 4 substituents selected from a functional group;
• saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl optionally bearing a functional group;
• or aromatic hydrocarbyl optionally bearing a functional group;
• R2, R2′, R3 and R3′ are each independently H, substituted or unsubstituted saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl;
• or substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbyl;
• wherein each of said substituted or unsubstituted saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl or aromatic hydrocarbyl optionally comprises one or more heteroatoms;
• and
• wherein said substituted saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl or substituted aromatic hydrocarbyl comprises independently 1 to 4 substituents selected from a functional group;
• a saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl optionally bearing a functional group;
• or an aromatic hydrocarbyl optionally bearing a functional group;
• or
• R2 and R3 together with the carbon atom (C1) to which they are attached form an unsubstituted or substituted, saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring moiety of 3 to 14 C-atoms;
• unsubstituted or substituted saturated or partially unsaturated heteroring moiety of 3 to 14 ring atoms comprising 1 to 6 heteroatoms selected from O, N, P, S or Si;
• or unsubstituted or substituted aromatic ring moiety of 3 to 14 C-atoms optionally comprising 1 to 4 heteroatoms;
• wherein said carbocyclic ring, heteroring or aromatic ring system is optionally fused with another ring system having 4 to 14 ring atoms;
• and
• wherein said substituted carbocyclic ring, heteroring or aromatic ring system comprises 1 to 4 substituents selected independently from a functional group, saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl optionally bearing a functional group;
• or an aromatic hydrocarbyl optionally bearing a functional group;
• or
• R2′ and R3′ together with the carbon atom (C1′) to which they are attached form an unsubstituted or substituted saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring moiety of 3 to 14 C-atoms;
• unsubstituted or substituted saturated or partially unsaturated heteroring moiety of 3 to 14 ring atoms comprising 1 to 6 heteroatoms selected from O, N, P, S or Si;
• or unsubstituted or substituted aromatic ring moiety of 3 to 14 C-atoms optionally comprising 1 to 4 heteroatoms;
• wherein said carbocyclic ring, heteroring or aromatic ring system is optionally fused with another ring system having 4 to 14 ring atoms;
• and
• wherein said substituted carbocyclic ring, heteroring or aromatic ring system comprises 1 to 4 substituents selected independently from a functional group, a saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbyl optionally bearing a functional group;
• or an aromatic hydrocarbyl optionally bearing a functional group;
• or
• R2 and R2′ form together a bivalent substituted or unsubstituted saturated or partly unsaturated hydrocarbyl optionally containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms, wherein R2 is linked to C1 and R2′ to C1′, respectively, forming together with C1—O—O—C1′— a substituted or unsubstituted saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring moiety of 3 to 14 C-atoms comprising optionally, in addition to said at least two O atoms, 1 to 4 further heteroatoms;
• wherein said carbocyclic ring or heteroring system is optionally fused with another ring system having 4-14 ring atoms;
• or functional derivatives thereof;
• with a proviso that at least two of R1, R2 and R3, and at least two of R1′, R2′ and R3′, respectively, are other than H or methyl.