HU210907B - Jelly product for protecting enclosed places against water, and communication cables containing said jelly product - Google Patents

Abstract

A communications cable including a gel composition comprising a water absorbent hydrocarbon polymer with pendent anionic groups which fills both filling and flooding zones. The gel composition is activated with moisture so that the water absorbent composition migrates to engage and absorb the water. The composition can also be used to protect enclosed components, fiber optics, or contents from water damage. Also, the gel composition protects wires which carry a small dc current such as communication wires and splices. The composition eliminates shorts caused by moisture contact with such wires.

Description

The present invention relates to a gel composition and to telecommunications or fiber optic cables containing it. Activated by moisture, the gel composition of the present invention absorbs water, thereby protecting the cable from the harmful effects of water. The gel composition of the present invention is effective for protection against water during revenge in confined spaces, such as instrument enclosures, cable housing enclosures, boxes containing joints or joints. The gel composition of the present invention may be introduced into the connecting housings or boxes before or during the assembly of the joints. The gel composition of the invention may also be applied to the cables themselves between the conductor bundles in the bundles and / or between the conductor bundles within the cable sheath. The gel composition of the present invention not only prevents water from entering the cables, but also eliminates short circuits caused by water in cables with low direct current, such as telephone cables or joints, and restores current flow through the wire.

Telecommunication cables, such as telephone lines, are made up of a plurality of wire pairs, usually a pair of copper wires. The wire pairs are insulated from each other by a thin layer of thermoplastic resin, such as polyethylene, and are bound together by an insulating material. Bundles of guide wire pairs wrap the cable in a plastic, paper, or other wrap. The spaces between the cable cladding are usually filled with fillers, such as an oil-based gel or a saturated thermoplastic rubber (ETPR), in order to exclude water from the cable and prevent water migration within the cable.

The conductors forming the cable must be connected to other conductors at the ends of the cables. Telecommunication cable connections are enclosed in a box-like housing, which may contain thousands of individually connected wires. The wires are connected to one or more small DC power braids that provide the necessary transmission current and are ultimately connected to telephone devices, for example, one or more telephone transmitters at one end or place and one or more phones at the other end. The enclosures are pressure-sealed and it is essential for the proper functioning of the telecommunication equipment that water cannot enter it and that the connections are adequately protected from moisture. In the event that the insulation of the wires is not maintained, moisture can penetrate the cable joints or the cables without the cable sheath. In this case, either a short circuit may occur, or a crosstalk may occur in telecommunications cables, which will prevent communication. A gel composition for sealing or repairing boxes containing telecommunication cables, such as telephone cable ties, is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,756,851. in U.S. Pat. Water hardens into a hard rubber or gypsum-like material. This has the disadvantage that it is easily broken and can lead to channels and cavities facilitating the entry and collection of water.

Water resistance is therefore a fundamental requirement for telecommunication cables. Cables are qualified for such purposes by meeting the values set forth in certain standards. For example, according to a standard issued by AT&T based on experiments conducted by Bell Laboratories, which is to be complied with by all cables installed by companies owned by the Bell Telephone Company, a 0.91 m horizontal cable section held under a 0.91 m high water column, Do not allow water to drain for 1 hour. In the future, Bell is likely to tighten the standard by requiring a 2.1m cable section under a 3.66m high water column to withstand water for 24 hours.

In addition to telecommunication cables, other types of conductors must be protected from water attack. For example, many microprocessor-controlled electromechanical devices include motors and switches that are supplied with a low-voltage direct current in conjunction with the microprocessor. When exposed to moisture, these devices are prone to electrical short circuits, especially where the circuit boards are connected to the wires or where the wires are connected to switches and motors, since at these points the wires are generally not insulated. Even if these connections are normally sealed in a housing or other suitable protective cover, once moisture enters the housing, for example due to condensation of water vapor, these connections are also attacked by water.

In telecommunication devices, a known method is to protect the conductors inside the housing, whether they are joints or cables, by wrapping the conductor bundles with a flexible material and then injecting liquid epoxy or urethane resin into the housing around the bundles. The resin then solidifies in the house. Such formulations should be mixed on site and administered by simple gravity flow. A disadvantage is that the material generally does not completely fill the inside of the casing, resulting in cavities. These cavities or channels can provide a path for water to enter, especially at locations where cable harnesses enter or exit the housing. A funnel effect can occur along the wrapped joints and, through the cracking of the cable jacket, water can penetrate the cable joints through the cable wrapping insulation on any side of the housing.

As described above, to protect the cables against water, the spaces between the conductor bundles inside the cables and the space between the conductor pairs within each bundle (hereafter "fill zone") are filled with a filler such as methanes, epoxy compounds, polystyrene. foams, thermoplastic rubber (ETPR), petroleum-based gels and / or other hydrophobic materials. Cables which are water swellable are known in the patent literature

EN 210 907 B containing polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamides or cellulose derivatives, which are used for wrapping bundles or used in a moisture barrier layer, which over the length of the cable, outside the conductor bundles, under the cable jacket located. (The space outside the bundles, under the cable cover, is referred to as the flooding zone.)

A disadvantage of cables made using the water-swellable polymers described above is that the polymers are generally used in the form of powders or granules, which may have problems with inadequate distribution in the flood zone. Thus, if the distribution in the flood zone is not uniform, the water absorption is not uniform throughout the zone. Furthermore, when sufficient amounts of water and polymer are present, swelling of the polymer within a given area of the closed flood zone becomes problematic. A further disadvantage is that certain polymers, such as cellulose derivatives, are susceptible to attack by bacteria and thus decompose into acids and other by-products which degrade the cable components.

In general, petroleum-based gels and thermosplastic gums are used as fillers, since the water-swellable materials used in the flood zone become conductive after water absorption, and the price of petroleum-based gels is still the best. The disadvantage of petroleum-based gels, however, is that they are relatively ineffective in blocking water exposed conductive assemblies because they have to be applied hot. As a result of the heat, the individual conductors are decomposed and, after cooling, the gel shrinks to form passages for water to enter and migrate. At low temperatures, the gel becomes rigid, thereby reducing insulation. Such temperature problems also occur with fiber optic cables. It is also a disadvantage that these gels are difficult to remove for making connections or for making a cable head. In contrast, the cable according to the invention is prepared at room temperature, thus avoiding the above problems.

In the patent literature, solutions are known in which the gelled material is also replaced by a powdered material which reacts with water to form a water blocking gel. U.S. Patent No. 3,358,235. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,115 discloses cables in which the space between the conductors and the space outside the bundles within the cable sheath is filled with a two-component powder composition. The first component swells rapidly when exposed to moisture to form a highly viscous material that almost immediately prevents axial penetration of moisture. The second component swells more slowly when exposed to moisture and expands to several times its volume; and thus converted into extremely high flow resistance material to prevent leachate barrier formation of the first component.

The use of powdered materials also has certain disadvantages. For example, after contact with water, the powders alter the electrical characteristics of the conductors in the cable bundles by increasing the conductivity and thus requiring thicker insulation around the conductors in the bundles, which increases the cost of the cable. If the powder filler is used in lower concentrations, water blocking will be less favorable. It is also a disadvantage that certain swellable materials, such as polyvinylalcohols and polyacrylamides, do not swell sufficiently rapidly in cold water and, therefore, if the bundles are only partially filled with these materials, the water seal is not adequate, If used, it is costly on the one hand and swelling in a confined space on the other hand when in contact with water.

WO 88/0844 discloses a low direct current non-conductive composition comprising an anionic groups water-absorbing polymer and a gel matrix. The gel composition can be activated with water and thus used to protect short-circuit wires against short circuits caused by moisture. According to the description, the gel composition is enclosed in enclosed spaces, e.g. they can also be used to fill enclosures containing cable ties and to fill space between conductive bundles in telecommunications cables. However, no telecommunication cable is described herein in which the space between the insulated conductors (space within the bundles) surrounded by the cable envelope is filled with the gel composition.

U.S. Patent No. 4,711,022. U.S. Patent No. 4,123,125 discloses an electrochemical coating process for metal fibers. The method can also be used to repair short circuits under the influence of moisture. In the process, the cable sheath and insulation are cut at the damaged site and, at the site of the short circuit, that is where the water is likely to have accumulated, is manually introduced into a powdery polymer having anionic groups. Current causes the electrode deposition of the polymer to form a hydrophobic coating at the improved site.

Our aim is to develop waterproof cables that do not have the above disadvantages. It has also been our object to develop a composition that can be used in telecommunications and fiber optic cables, their connections, or in other confined spaces to eliminate electrical problems caused by moisture. For telecommunication cables, there was no known material that could be used properly in both the charging and flooding zones. Thus, known water-swellable polymers are generally applicable in the flood zone, while water-resistant or impermeable materials are generally applicable in the filling zone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gel composition and a telecommunications cable for protecting the interior contents of enclosed spaces against water.

The gel composition of the present invention contains from 5 to 33% by weight of a water-absorbing polymer having an anionic groups attached to its backbone, which polymer is dispersed in a gel medium, and said gel medium is 40-95% by weight of silicone, olefin, ester, fluorinated. in hydrocarbons, petroleum based hydrocarbons3

EN 210 907 tartalmazza containing 5-24% by weight of a viscosity inducing agent in ethylene homo- or copolymer microspheres, waxes, pyrogenic silicon dioxide, organophilic clays, metal stearates or their mixtures, in a mixture of 5-24% by weight of a viscosity enhancer. and the composition optionally contains from 1% to 10% by weight of a hydrophilic substance and optionally a corrosion inhibitor.

The telecommunication cable of the present invention consists of a plurality of insulated conductive bundles of bundles joined by a binder comprising a bundle of cable wraps and a space-filling gel composition, wherein the bundle binder comprises a space between the insulated conductors and a non-bundle of the present invention.

The water-absorbent polymer dispersed in the gel medium contains anionic groups attached to the polymer backbone which, by exposure to direct current from a short-conductor conductor under the influence of water, is attracted to the conductor acting as an anode and accumulates in the conductor through electrochemical interaction. restores.

The gel composition of the present invention can be used in any enclosed space to protect the parts therein from water. An advantage of the gel composition according to the invention is that both the filling and the flooding of electric cables are made! zone can be applied. The gel composition of the present invention may also be injected into connector housings containing conductive joints or enclosures around conductive or joint joints. The gel composition of the present invention may be injected during or after the connection of the enclosures.

The viscosity enhancing agent is mixed with the liquid to form a gel. The water-absorbing polymer contains anionic groups attached to the polymer backbone and is generally in the form of a fine powder. In the composition, the powdered hydrocarbon polymer is mixed in a dielectric gel medium. In many cases, the dielectric gel medium has a hydrophobic character, so it will be advantageous to add a hydrophilic substance to the composition, as will be described in more detail below. The gel medium does not hinder or impede the conductor insulation, for example in a joint, since the medium does not conduct current in the joints.

The gel composition contained in the enclosure itself acts as a barrier to the ingress of water. If water still enters the space, such as the inside of a fiber optic cable, a junction box or a junction, or a charging or flooding of a telecommunications cable! zone, the water-absorbing polymer in the gel medium is activated and binds the water. An assay was performed in which water was added to the gel composition of the invention. The fine powder polymer in the gel medium visibly moved towards the water. This effect was observed even for the polymer at a distance of 15 cm from the gel-water border. The phenomenon is caused by the fact that the water-absorbing polymer "finds" water. Contact between water and the polymer in the gel forms a very viscous semi-solid which is incapable of moving as a liquid. The hydrophilic materials added to the gel medium containing the polymer and hydrophobic materials facilitate the movement of the polymer to water.

If the water-absorbing polymers containing the dependent anionic groups are exposed to the same current as a small amount of direct current in the conductors of the telecommunication cables, then the anionic groups in the polymer are attracted to the conductor, i.e. the conductor actually behaves like an anode. Due to its attraction, the polymer is electrochemically interacted with the conductor and the polymer attracted around the conductor, where accumulated water, obstructs the conductor surface. As soon as the polymer layer is built up around the conductor, it is restored due to current flow through the conductor, short-circuiting or "healing". Depending on the composition of the gel, this "healing" process may take from a few minutes to 2-3 hours. Often, water cure begins immediately. In general, fast-acting gel formulations are preferred.

The gel compositions of the present invention play a more important role in the protection against water in a confined space such as a junction box or cable. Thus, first, the gel composition repels water in the presence of moisture. In addition, when water is present, the water-absorbing polymer in the gel is activated and, when removed from the gel, absorbs the water. This moving effect is particularly advantageous when the enclosed space is a cable having a very small space between a plurality of conductors in a bundle. When water is present, the polymer moves in the interstice and, by virtue of its plugging action, prevents further water from entering the filling zone. This phenomenon is independent of the presence of current and therefore the gel composition of the invention can be applied to non-electrical conductors such as fiber optic cables. In the case of damaged telecommunications cables, where a low direct current is present, another advantage of the composition according to the invention is that the short circuit is eliminated by the gel composition. Thus, the gel composition of the present invention, on the one hand, prevents the ingress of water and, on the other hand, eliminates short circuits and thereby restores flow in the conduit.

The composition and hence the viscosity of the gel composition of the invention can be adjusted depending on the durability requirements of the environmental conditions. In general, it is preferred that the gel has a viscosity of 100 x ⁶ m ² / s at 100 ° C and ⁹ x 10 ~ ² m ² / s at 40 ° C. The viscosity of the composition may be varied as desired. Thin or dense gels may be used. Optimal penetration of the gel composition of the invention is in the range of 150-425.

It is desirable to be able to carry out further installation work on the connector housings. This is very difficult, if at all possible, for epoxy or urethane-filled coupling housings. The gel composition according to the invention has the advantage that it can be easily removed by hand from the joints and thus retrofitted. In contrast to urethane or epoxy resins known and used in the art, the removed gel can be reused.

HU 210 907 B

The 25 paired telecommunication cables 25 (diameter: 0.05105 cm) containing the gel composition of the present invention meet the standard requirements described above and are even better. For example, under a water column seven meters high (caused by the air pressure applied to the water), the 0.91 m long cable portion of the present invention was impermeable to water for 20 weeks. Another 1.5m cable section withstood a 21m high water column for 20 weeks without water permeability. These experiments are still ongoing and are expected to end with a much longer resistance period.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the construction of a telecommunication cable using the gel composition of the present invention and the equipment used.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a telecommunication cable containing the gel composition of the present invention made with the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of one of the filling heads of the apparatus of Figure 1.

As a water-absorbing polymer, the gel composition of the present invention comprises polymers having anionic groups dependent on the polymer backbone. Polymers formed from non-naturally occurring monomers are preferred because they are less degraded by bacteria. Anionic groups include: -carboxylate, sulfate, phosphate, sulfonate, phosphonate, or other anionic groups which are negatively charged by water. Preferred polymers are polycarboxylates. Preference is given to polycarboxylates consisting of α, β-ethylenically unsaturated mono- and dicarboxylic acids and / or anhydrides, such as propenoic acid, α-methylpropenoic acid, β-methylpropenoic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid or the corresponding maleic anhydride or fumaric acid. Particularly preferred are polymers consisting of 2-propanoate, commonly known as polyacrylates; and polymers based on propenoic acid or derivatives thereof, in which the anionic carboxylate groups provide a strongly negative charge along the polymer chain under aqueous conditions. The composition of the invention may also contain these polymers in the form of salts such as alkali metal ions such as lithium, sodium or potassium ions or alkaline earth metal ions such as magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, zinc. or in the form of salts with aluminum ion. The cation is determined by the valence of the anionic groups attached to the hydrocarbon chain. Polymers of such polyacrylic acid derivatives are commercially available. Such polymers are commercially available from Dow Chemical Corp., Stockhausen Inc., Chemdal Corp. and ARCO Chemical.

The gel composition of the present invention may contain, as a water-absorbing polymer, though preferably polycarboxylates, for example acrylates, acrylamides, methacrylates, methacrylamide, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, tri- and / or tetraethylene glycol, diacrylates such as starch, graft polymer, cellulose or cellulose derivatives such as (carboxymethyl) cellulose. Such polymers are sold, for example, by Procter & Gamble Co., Grain Processing Corp. and Chem-Mud, Inc. Water-absorbing polymers are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,589,364; 3,661,815; 3,669,103.

670 731, 3 880 751, 4 105 033, 4 129 544,

295,987, 4,442,173, 4,443,312, 4,446,261,

497,930, 4,616,063, 4,618,631, 4,690,971,

U.S. Patent Nos. 849,484; European Patent Application Nos. 188,959; Japanese Patent Nos. 57-125,871; and Japanese Patent Nos. 59-3299.

Cellulose and cellulose derivative polymers, although dispersed in a gel medium as described above, are not preferred in the composition of the present invention as they are biodegradable within a few months. Accordingly, the composition of the invention preferably comprises "non-biodegradable" polymers composed of non-naturally occurring monomers. For example, the polyacrylic acid polymers described above will not degrade over several years.

The gel composition of the present invention contains from 5 to 33% by weight of water-absorbing polymer, depending on the type of polymer. The composition according to the invention preferably contains from 10 to 30% by weight of a polymer, and preferably from 15 to 30% by weight of a polyacrylic acid polymer. When the gel composition of the present invention contains cellulose or cellulose derivative polymer or other bacterial sensitive polymer, it is preferred that the amount is greater than the above concentrations.

The gel composition of the present invention may contain gelling agents or gelling agents as gel media. The gel medium must be non-conductive, such as a dielectric, against small direct currents. A further requirement is to ensure uniform distribution of the anionic hydrocarbon polymer in the gel medium. The viscosity of the gel is confined to the preparation! may vary depending on the application, the temperature used, and other conditions of use.

The gel composition of the present invention may contain, for example, silicones, petroleum-based gels, high-viscosity esters, glycols, polyglycols, olefins or fluorinated hydrocarbons as gel media. Preferably, the gel composition comprises polyalkylene glycols, poly (a-olefin) and a mixture of polyisobutylenes and mixtures thereof with standard white mineral oils of different molecular weights. Oil-based gel media, commonly referred to as dielectric oil gel media, are preferred. The amount of gel medium in the composition of the invention is 40-95% by weight, depending on the application of the thickener. The concentration of the gel medium is preferably 40-85% by weight, more preferably 61.6-84.75% by weight.

Gel media with excessively hydrophobic properties tend to coat the polymer and thereby seal it away from water. For such hydrophobic gels, it is desirable to add a small amount of hydrophilic material. Hydrophilic materials promote the use of water-absorbing polymer

EN 210 907 Β to moisture. The gel composition of the invention may contain from 1 to 10% by weight of hydrophilic materials. The composition according to the invention may comprise, for example, straight or branched chain mono-, di- or polyhydroxy alcohols, including various polyalkylene glycols, and mixtures and derivatives thereof, and various alkanols, mixtures and derivatives thereof, as hydrophilic materials. Preferably, the composition may comprise, for example, ethylene glycol, hexylene glycol and poly (alkylene glycol) copolymers which are statistically substituted with ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, and isopropyl alcohol or 2-ethylhexanol. Also preferred are mono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acids and mixtures thereof, such as oleic, palmitic, linolenic or linoleic acids, as well as tall oil containing oleic acid, as well as various commercially available detergents and surfactants, and mixtures thereof such as sorbitan. mono-9-octadecanoate-polyoxy-1,2-ethanediyl and 2,4,6,9-tetramethyl-5-decin-4,7-diol.

The gel composition of the present invention also comprises viscosity enhancing agents to provide the desired viscosity with the gel medium. The compositions of the present invention may contain viscosity enhancing agents such as ethylene and polyethylene microspheres as thickeners for the thickening of crude oil and fluorinated hydrocarbon oils, gels and lubricants such as waxes and petrolates as known in the art. Materials commonly used as viscosity enhancers in gels, dielectric oils and greases include: pyrogenic silica, organophilic clays such as bentonite or hectorite; and urea derivatives. Preferred viscosity enhancing agents are organophilic clays. Preferably, the composition of the present invention comprises bentonite clays which do not require external polar activation as a viscosity enhancing agent. Examples of such viscosity enhancing agents are the commercially available viscosity enhancing agents available under the trade names BARAGEL 3000 and NYKON 3000 (manufactured by N.L. Chemicals, Inc., Hightstown, N.J.). The composition of the invention may also contain bentonites which require activation (e.g. acetone), such as BENTON 24 (manufactured by NL Chemicals Incl.) As a viscosity enhancing agent.

The amount of viscosity enhancer depends on the viscosity desired, the gel medium, and the type of viscosity enhancer. The composition of the present invention generally contains from 5 to 24% by weight of a viscosity enhancing agent. When the composition according to the invention contains a self-activating organophilic clay as a viscosity enhancing agent, for example in a dielectric gel medium, the preferred amount is 5-10% by weight. When the composition according to the invention comprises low density or high density polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer microspheres as a viscosity increasing agent, for example, a dielectric oil in a gel medium is preferably present in an amount of 10% by weight. The viscosity enhancing agents of this type may be present in the composition of the invention in an amount of 4 to 15% by weight. When the composition of the present invention contains petroleum-based hydrocarbons such as aliphatic or naphthine paraffins or mixtures thereof as a gel medium, the amount of wax or petrolatum (s) added to the gel medium is 212% by weight. Preferred paraffins have an average molecular weight of 200-1000. The viscosity of a gel composition containing such paraffins, depending on the proportion of the viscosity enhancing agents, is 40 ° C to 10 ¹⁰ m ² / s at 40 ° C. The composition of the present invention may contain petroleum based hydrocarbons as a viscosity enhancing agent which are free of contaminants causing corrosion of instrument parts, cables or other enclosed spaces.

The composition of the invention may also contain a mixture of viscosity enhancing agents as described above. For example, the composition of the present invention may contain from 4% to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of an organophilic clay such as bentonite, 2.1 to 12% by weight of wax or petrolatum, 0.5 to 9.81% by weight of pyrogenic silica. and 2.1 to 18% by weight of an ethylene or polyethylene microsphere. The composition according to the invention preferably contains from 11.91% to 23.75% by weight of such a viscosity-increasing composition.

In addition, the composition of the invention may also contain corrosion inhibitors. As a corrosion inhibitor, the compositions of the present invention may contain inhibitors known in the art as additives in lubricants which do not adversely affect the water absorption of the composition of the invention or the insulating properties of the polymer in the composition. The composition according to the invention may contain as an anticorrosive agent only the substance (s) which are non-acidic in nature, since the acidic substances can neutralize the action of the polymer. In addition, neutral barium dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate can cause degeneration. The composition of the invention may contain, for example, a substance available under the trade name IRGANOX (manufactured by Ciba-Geigy Corp.) as an anti-corrosion agent. The composition according to the present invention may contain, for example, copper triazole derivatives as copper passivators, such as REOMET 39 (manufactured by Ciba-Geigy Corp.).

The cable and gel composition of the present invention is illustrated in detail in the following non-limiting examples.

Example 1

A gel medium was prepared with 20 parts by weight of polyisobutylene (brand name: INDOPOL L-100; manufactured by Amoco) and 4-1 / 2 parts by weight of poly (a-olefin) and 1 part by weight of poly (alkylene glycol) (brand: POLY-G 9150; : Olin Chemical Corp.).

Poly (alkylene glycol) is a statistically distributed copolymer of 751% ethylene oxide and 25% propylene oxide having an average molecular weight of 12,000 to 15,000 and a hydroxyl number of 5-10 mg KOH / g.

The polyisobutylene has a viscosity of 210 to 227 at 38 ° C and a viscosity index of 95 at ASTM D-145.

HU 210 907 B

The poly (a-olefin) used is a long-chain poly (a-olefin); brand: SHF-61, manufactured by: Mobil; viscosity, as determined by ASTM D-445 at 30 ° C, 30.5 and viscosity! Poly (aolefin), exemplified by the product SHF-61 (manufactured by Mobil), is a hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of 200-800. SHF-61 is a 1-decene oligomer. The viscosities of the corresponding poly (a-olefins) at 100 ° C are in the range of 2x10 ^{6 to 6} -1x10 ² m ² / s.

The resulting mixture is then mixed with 1 part by weight of pyrogenic silica (viscosity enhancer). The resulting gel medium is mixed in a 2: 1 weight ratio with the water-absorbing polymer, which in this case is a cross-linked polypropenoic acid sodium salt, hereinafter "sodium 2-polypropenoate" (experimental absorbent polymer XU43408.00 manufactured by Dow Chemical Co., article number: 06115).

A pair of interconnected wires are connected to a 12 V battery and water is applied to the wiring to cause a short circuit. The space around the wire joint is then filled with the composition of Example 1. Water absorption begins within 15 seconds. The short circuit ("heals") is eliminated and the conductor is restored through the wire pair. The same results are obtained with a formulation containing polyacrylic acid commercially available as FAVOR C 96 (Water Stock, Greensboro, N.C.) as a water-absorbing polymer.

Example 2

As described in Example 1, a gel composition is prepared using the following components:

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight INDOPOLL-Loo Amoco Chemical Corp. 736 Shell wax 130 Shell Chemical Co. 25 REOMET 39 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 3 FAVOR C96 Stockhausen, Inc. 286 AEROSIL R74 Degussa Corp. 116.9 MICROTHENE FA640 Quantum Chemicals Corp. 25

Example 3

As described in Example 1, a gel composition is prepared using the following components:

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight DRAKEOL 34 Penreco Corp. 610 REOMET 39 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 2.5 BARAGEL 3000 NL Chemicals, Inc. 50 AEROSIL R74 Degussa Corp. 15 FAVOR C 96 Stockhausen, Inc. 150 MICROTHENE FA640 Quantum Chemicals Corp. 172.5

The preparation is classified according to ASTM Dl50.

Dielectric constant: 2.26 Dissipation factor: 0.01

Volumetric resistance (ASTM D257): 4.99x10 ¹²

Example 4

As described in Example 1, a gel composition is prepared using the following components:

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight DRAKEOL 34 Penreco Corp. 610 REOMET 39 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 2.5 BENTONE24 NL Chemicals, Inc. 50 acetone 10 AEROSIL R74 Degussa Corp. 20 FAVOR C 96 Stockhausen, Inc. 150 MICROTHENE FA640 Quantum Chemicals Corp. 157.5

The preparation is classified according to ASTM Dl50.

Dielectric constant: 2.12,

Dissipation factor: 0.01,

Volumetric resistance (ASTM D257): 5.91x10 ¹²

Example 5

As described in Example 1, a gel composition is prepared using the following components:

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight DRAKEOL 34 Penreco Corp. 622.5 REOMET 39 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 2.5 BARAGEL 3000 NL Chemical, Inc. 40 AEROSIL R74 Degussa Corp. 5 FAVOR C 96 Stockhausen, Inc. 150 MICROTHENE FA640 Quantum Chemicals Corp. 180

The preparation is classified according to ASTM Dl50.

Dielectric constant: 2.19 Dissipation factor: 0.01

Volumetric resistance (ASTM D257): 6.91x10 ¹²

Example 6

As described in Example 1, a gel composition is prepared using the following components:

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight DRAKEOL 34 Penreco Corp. 704.95 REOMET 39 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 2.875 IRGANOX 1010 Ciba-Geigy Copr. 2.3 BARAGEL 3000 NL Chemical, Inc. 51.75

HU 210 907 Β

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight AEROSILR74 Degussa Corp. 8.625 FAVOR C 96 Stockhausen Inc. MICROTHENE FA640 Quantum Chemicals Corp. 207

Example 7

As described in Example 1, a gel composition is prepared using the following components:

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight DRAKEOL 34 Penreco Corp. 324.8 N1500 Penreco Corp. 324.8 REOMET 39 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 2.8 BARAGEL 3000 NL Chemical, Inc. 61.6 AEROSILR74 Degussa Corp. 5.6 FAVOR C 96 Stockhausen, Inc. 224 MICROTHENE FA640 Quantum Chemicals Corp. 176.4

Example 8

As described in Example 1, a gel composition is prepared using the following components:

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight White oil Calumet Refineries, La. 656.625 REOMET 39 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 2,125 IRGANOX 1010 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 4.25 BARAGEL 3000 NL Chemical, Inc. 59.5 FAVOR C 96 Stockhausen, Inc. 127.5

Example 9

As described in Example 1, a gel composition is prepared using the following components:

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight INDOPOLL-Loo Amoco Chemical Corp. 891 BARAGEL 3000 NL Chemical, Inc. 120 FAVOR C 96 Stockhausen, Inc. 180 REOMET 39 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 3 IRGANOX 1010 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 6

Example 10

As described in Example 1, a gel composition is prepared using the following components:

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight DRAKEOL 34 Penreco Corp. 694.4 REOMET 39 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 2.8 IRGANOX 1010 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 56 BARAGEL 3000 NL Chemical, Inc. 50.4 FAVOR C 96 Stockhausen, Inc. 168 MICROTHENE FA640 Quantum Chemicals Corp. 198.8

Example 11

As described in Example 1, a gel composition is prepared using the following components:

brand Name Manufacturer Part weight INDOPOLL-Loo Amoco Chemical Corp. 862.4 AEROSILR74 Degussa Corp. 120 FAVOR C 96 Stockhausen, Inc. 278 REOMET 39 Ciba-Geigy Corp. 3.2

Formulations with similar properties are obtained when the compounds of FIGS. The polymer used in the compositions of Examples 1 to 8 is polymer of Chemical Corp., No. 1125.

Example 72

The composition of Example 1 was prepared except that part of the poly (alkylene glycol) was replaced by tall oil fatty acid. Concentration of tall oil fatty acid in the gel medium: 5% by weight. The gel medium is then mixed with 33% by weight of sodium 2-polypropenoate (water-absorbing polymer).

The hydrophilic component was compared to a composition containing oleic acid and tall oil acid, and a composition containing no hydrophilic component prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that no poly (alkylene glycol) component was used. The absorption of water from the composition containing oleic acid and tall oil acid starts about 1.5 times faster than the composition without the hydrophilic component. With a composition that does not contain a hydrophilic component, water absorption begins only after 2 minutes.

Example 13

As a gel medium, a composition containing a fluorinated hydrocarbon is prepared. NYE fluoroether grease 3834, a completely fluorinated grease, a viscosity at 100 ° C 2,6xl0 ^-5 m ² / s and 40 ° C 2,7x1ο- ⁴ m ² / s.

g of NYE fluoroether fat, 3 g of sodium 2-polypropenoate and 0.5 g of pyrogenic silicon dioxide (viscosity enhancer) are mixed.

The resulting gel formulation was rated as described in Example 1. Water absorption and short-circuit elimination is slow but effective.

Example 14

As a gel medium, a composition containing a fluorinated hydrocarbon is prepared. NYE fluoroether grease 3834 applied a completely fluorinated grease, viscosity at 100 ° C 2,6xl0 ^_5 m ² / s and 40 ° C 2,7x1ο ^-4 m ² / s.

g of NYE fluoroether fat, 3 g of sodium 2-polypropenoate and 0.5 g of pyrogenic silicon dioxide (viscosity enhancer) are mixed.

Water absorption and the elimination of short circuits are slow but effective.

HU 210 907 Β

Example 75

Compositions containing various polyesters are prepared as gel media. The polyesters used in the average molecular weight of 300-800, a viscosity at 40 ° C for 2,5xl0 ^_5 -lxl0 ⁴ m ² / s. The polyesters are blended with 10-30% by weight of polymer. The polyesters used are polymers consisting of esters of trimethylol propane, pentaerythritol and triallyl mellate.

The formulations begin to absorb water in less than 1 minute. The lead in the line is restored after 20 minutes.

Example 16

A gel medium was prepared with 50 parts by weight of polyisobutylene (brand name: INDOPOL L-100; company: Amoco), 40 parts by weight of white oil (brand: DRAKEOL 34; company: Penreco Corp.) and 10 parts by weight of pyrogenic silica (brand: AEROSIL R74; : Degussa Corp.).

25 parts by weight of the resulting gel medium are mixed with 25 parts by weight of a starch-poly (acrylonitrile) graft copolymer (water-absorbing polymer; trade name: WAIER LOCK; manufactured by Grain Processing Corp.).

The resulting gel formulation was rated as described in Example 1. Water absorption begins after about 8 minutes and then short-circuited soon.

Example 77

A gel medium was prepared with 50 parts by weight of polyisobutylene (brand name: INDOPOL L-100; company: Amoco), 40 parts by weight of white oil (brand: DRAKEOL 34; company: Penreco Corp.) and 10 parts by weight of pyrogenic silica (brand: AEROSIL R74; : Degussa Corp.).

25 parts by weight of the resulting gel medium are mixed with 25 parts by weight of polymethacrylamide (water-absorbing polymer; trade name: CHEM-MUD; manufactured by Chemmud, Inch, Leicester, N.C.).

The resulting gel formulation was rated as described in Example 1. The water absorption starts after about 10 minutes and then the short-circuit will soon cease.

Example 18

The composition of the invention may also contain, as a gel medium of dielectric oil, white oils (aliphatic or naphthenic paraffins) of petroleum-based hydrocarbons. Formulations are made using various white oils manufactured by Penreco Corp., including DRAKEOL brand products, including DRAKEOL 7, 19, 34, 35 and DRAKEOL 4410, and KAYDOL brand oils manufactured by Witco Corp. Oils having a viscosity in the range of 150 to 600 are preferred to form a suitable dielectric oil gel medium.

It has been found that the use of petroleum-based waxes or low-oil cream petrolates results in a higher viscosity dielectric gel medium and thus requires only the use of pyrogenic silica (viscosity enhancer) in smaller amounts than in the previous examples. For example, the composition of Example 1 is prepared except that the polyisobutylene is replaced by 150 vis wax hydrated oil distillate (manufactured by Penreco Corp.). For the preparation of the liquid medium, 91.8% by weight of wax hydrated oil distillate, 1.6% by weight of poly (alkylene glycol) (trade name: POLY-G 9150; manufactured by Olin Chemical Corp.) and 6.6% by weight of microcrystalline wax (trade name: Witco X145-A; manufactured by Witco Chemical Corp.). In the preparation of the dielectric oil gel medium, 1.0% by weight of pyrogenic silica (trade name: AEROSIL R74; manufactured by Degussa Corp.) and 14.7% by weight of high density linear polyethylene powder (trade name: MICROTHENE FA750; manufactured by: Quantum Chemicals Corp.). To the resulting gel medium is then added 25.9% by weight of a polyacrylic acid sodium salt (FAVOR C 96; Stockhausen, Inc.).

The resulting composition was qualified as described in Example 1. Water absorption begins within 5 minutes. The electrochemical deposition of the polymeric insulating layer begins after 10 minutes and ceases after a short time.

Example 79

The formulation of Example 18 was prepared, except that the wax hydrated oil distillate was replaced by a non-hydrated oil (preferably brand name: HG Bright Stock Oil; manufactured by Penreco) and 5% by weight of low cream oily petrolatum (manufactured by Penreco) was added. .

The resulting composition was qualified as described in Example 1. The composition has the same characteristics as the composition of Example 1.

Example 20

A dielectric oil gel medium was prepared with 80 parts by weight of a white oil (brand: DRAKEOL 4410; manufactured by Penreco Corp.), 15 parts by weight of microcrystalline wax (brand: X145-A; manufactured by Witco Corp.) and 5 parts by weight of pyrogenic silica (brand: AEROSIL R74 (manufactured by Degussa Corp.). 80 parts by weight of the resulting gel medium are mixed with 20 parts by weight of a sodium salt of a maleic anhydride polymer (water-absorbing polymer) manufactured by ARCO Chemical and considered to be the same as the type of polymer described in US Patent 4,661,663.

The resulting composition was classified as described in Example 1. The water absorption starts after 10 minutes and then shortly ceases. Similar results are obtained for formulations using polymers made of fumaric anhydride as a water-absorbing polymer.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the construction of a telecommunication cable according to the invention, such as the cross-sectional cable shown in Figure 2.

Using a gel preparation according to EN 210 907 B; and the necessary equipment.

The cable 10 consists of a plurality of wire or wire pairs 12 connected in bundles 14 with a binder 16. The bundles 14 are surrounded by a cable cover 18. Although not shown in Figure 2, the cable cover 18 generally consists of several layers, such as a plastic wrap (e.g., MYLAR), a metal wrap, a thin layer of polyurethane or other foam material, and an outer plastic layer or one or more of these layers. layer combination. Each pair of wires 12 is comprised of a pair of metal wires 20 covered with a thin layer of insulation such as polyethylene. A bundle 14 may comprise any number of wire or conductor pairs 12. Figure 2 shows bundles 14 containing twenty pairs.

In making the cable 10, the wire or wire pairs 12 are pulled through an oscillating tool, such as the tool 26 in the filler head 24 shown in Figure 3, in which the gel composition of the present invention is extruded into the wire or wire pair. While Figure 2 shows five cables each consisting of twenty pairs of wires, Figure 1 illustrates the entry of only five pairs of wires 12 for each of the filler heads 24 for simplicity. The five tools 26 in the filler head 24 are mounted on shafts 25 and are oscillated with an oscillator 28 commonly used in the industry. The five bundles 14 are pulled at the outlet of the tool 24 through a size control insert 30 (see Figure 3) to uniformize the bundle diameter and the amount of gel composition. Each bundle 14 exiting the oscillator 28 is surrounded by the binder applicator 32 with a binder 16 such as olefin or paper wrapper.

The five bundles 14 are then pulled through a second filling head 34 in which the gel composition of the present invention is extruded between the bundles 14 by means of a belt (36) oscillating with a motor (not shown). The cable cover 38 is then applied to the cable cover 18 in a manner known in the art, and at the end of the process the cable 10 is removed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art of cable manufacturing that, instead of the cable sheath 18, one hundred pairs of cables 10 may be surrounded by 16 binders and then passed through another 34 filling heads (not shown), such as another nineteen a few cables containing such cables can be produced.

As noted above, in each bundle 14, the space 40 between the pair of conductors 12 within the binder envelope 16 is the filling zone. The flood zone 42 is the space between the bundles 14 within the cable cover 18 covering the cable 10. The gel composition of the present invention can be used in both the filling and flooding zones.

Figure 3 shows the filling head 24. The filling head 24 consists of a standing housing 44 and an oscillating tool 26 through which the wire or wire pairs 12 are pulled (not shown). The housing 44 is secured to the mounting plate 45 of the support assembly 46 by means of screws 48. A seal 50 placed in a circular groove 51 on the inner surface 52 of the support assembly 46 abuts the outer surface 54 of the front plate 54 of the tool 26; and a seal 56 disposed in a circular groove 57 in the back plate 58 of the housing 44 abuts the surface 60 of the plate 62 of the tool 26 so as to ensure oscillation of the oscillating tool 26 in the housing 44. The back plate 62 of the tool 26 is fastened to an axis 25 of an oscillator (designated 28 in FIG. 1) by means of screws 66. Thus, the tool 26 can oscillate within the housing 44 by means of the axis 25.

The housing 44 is provided with an inlet bore 68 through which the gel composition of the present invention delivered through the hose 70 can enter the space 72 inside the housing 44 due to the driving force of the die 26 and the aperture 74 therein. The wire or conductor pairs 12 can be pulled through the openings 76 in the front plate 54 of the tool 26. The pair of wires or wires 12 may be pulled out of the tool 26 through an opening (not numbered) in which the size control insert 30 is disposed. The size adjusting pad 30 is provided with an opening 80, the size of which is selected depending on the desired bundle diameter 14. The gel composition bundle 14 exits the filler head through the longitudinal opening 82 through the tube axis 25 of the oscillator 28. The opening 80 of the size adjusting pad 30 is expanded to facilitate the passage of the wire or wire pairs 12 into the longitudinal opening 82.

The gel composition of the present invention, which is pressed into space 72 in housing 44, is maintained under low pressure to facilitate extrusion into the wire or wire pairs 12. The pressure can be controlled by the size of the bore 86 in the wall of the housing 44, that is, the amount of gel composition from the housing 44 to the hose 88 can be limited. Alternatively, the bore 86 may be replaced by a one-way spring pressure control valve (not shown). If the gel composition also contains an tackifier, the composition adheres to the wire or conductor pairs at atmospheric pressure, in which case the bore 86 may be plugged or provided with an inspection opening (not shown).

Claims (16)

PATENT CLAIMS A gel composition for protecting the interior contents of enclosed spaces from the adverse effects of the water present, characterized in that it comprises from 5 to 33% by weight of a water-absorbing polymer having an anionic groups attached to its backbone and a polymer dispersed in a gel medium. 5 to 24% by weight based on the total weight of the preparation - 40-95% by weight in silicone, olefin, ester, hydrofluorocarbon, petroleum hydrocarbon, glycol, polyglycol, polyether or mixture thereof EN 210 907% by weight as a viscosity enhancing agent containing homogeneous or copolymer microspheres of ethylene, waxes, pyrogenic silica, organophilic clays, metal stearates, urea derivatives or mixtures thereof, optionally containing from 1 to 10% by weight of hydrophilic and optionally a corrosion inhibitor. (Priority: 4/4/1989) Gel composition according to Claim 1, characterized in that the water-absorbing polymer comprises polysaccharides or polyacrylates consisting of acrylates, acrylamides, methacrylate, methacrylamide, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, triacrylates and / or tetraethylene glycols or diacrylates, cellulose or diacrylates. (Priority: 4/4/1989) Gel composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the water-absorbing polymer comprises polymers consisting of α, β-ethylenically unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids and / or anhydrides. (Priority: 4/4/1989) Gel composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the water-absorbing polymer comprises polymers consisting of acrylic acid, α-methylpropenoic acid, 3-methylpropenoic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid or maleic or fumaric anhydride. .07) Gel composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains 61.6% to 84.7% by weight of gel medium. (Priority: 4/4/1989) 6. The gel composition of claim 1, wherein the petroleum-based hydrocarbon is a dielectric oil. (Priority: 07.04.1989) Gel composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains an organophilic clay, preferably bentonite, as a viscosity increasing agent. (Priority: 07.04.1989) Gel composition according to claim 7, characterized in that the gel composition contains 5-10% by weight of organophilic clay. (Priority: 07.04.1989) 9. Telecommunication cable consisting of a plurality of insulated conductor bundles, which bundles are bonded with a binder - a bundle of cable wraps and a space-filling gel composition, characterized in that within the bundle binder there is a space between the insulated conductors and outside the bundles, gel composition according to claim 1. (Priority 02.03.1990) Telecommunication cable according to claim 9, characterized in that the gel composition has the composition according to claim 2. (Priority: March 2, 1990) Telecommunication cable according to claim 9, characterized in that the gel composition has the composition according to claim 3. (Priority 02.03.1990) Telecommunication cable according to claim 9, characterized in that the gel composition has the composition according to claim 4. (Priority: March 2, 1990) The telecommunication cable of claim 9, wherein the gel composition is of the composition of claim 5. (Priority 02.03.1990) A telecommunications cable according to claim 9, characterized in that the gel composition has a composition according to claim 6. (Priority: March 2, 1990) A telecommunications cable according to claim 9, characterized in that the gel composition has the composition according to claim 7. (Priority: March 2, 1990) The telecommunication cable of claim 9, wherein the gel composition has the composition of claim 8. (Priority: March 2, 1990)