Poly(arylene ether)—polyolefin composition and its use in wire and cable insulation and sheathing

An insulated conductor, comprising:

• a conductor;
• an insulating layer surrounding the conductor;
• wherein the insulating layer comprises an insulating layer composition comprising
• about 10 to about 35 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether);
• about 8 to about 16 weight percent of an unfunctionalized hydrogenated triblock copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene;
• wherein the unfunctionalized hydrogenated triblock copolymer has a weight average molecular weight less than or equal to 200,000 atomic mass units;
• about 15 to about 30 weight percent of an unfunctionalized polyolefin comprising about 14 to about 30 weight percent of an unfunctionalized ethylene-octene copolymer;
• and
• 43 to 60 weight percent of a magnesium dihydroxide;
• wherein the ma nesiu dihydroxide la er composition m osition comprises a stearic acid-treated magnesium dihydroxide;
• wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the insulating layer composition;
• and
• a sheath layer surrounding the insulating layer;
• wherein the sheath layer comprises a sheath layer composition comprising about 10 to about 35 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether);
• about 8 to about 16 weight percent of an unfunctionalized hydrogenated triblock copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene;
• wherein the unfunctionalized hydrogenated triblock copolymer has a weight average molecular weight less than or equal to 200,000 atomic mass units;
• about 15 to about 30 weight percent of an unfunctionalized polyolefin comprising about 14 to about 30 weight percent of an unfunctionalized ethylene-octene copolymer;
• and
• about 20 to about 40 weight percent of a magnesium dihydroxide;
• wherein the magnesium dihydroxide of the sheath layer composition comprises an amino magnesium dihydroxide;
• wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the sheath layer composition.