WO2012049653A1

WO2012049653A1 - An electrical cable, method and composition for hampering recycling of an electrical cable

Info

Publication number: WO2012049653A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/054537
Authority: WO
Inventors: Craig Gerard Eksteen; Alan James Watkins
Original assignee: Hemivect (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date: 2010-10-13
Filing date: 2011-10-13
Publication date: 2012-04-19
Also published as: ZA201202962B

Abstract

An electrical cable 10 includes strands 12 of a copper electrical conductor, a jacket 14, and a composition 16. The jacket 14 comprises dielectric sheaths 5 each surrounding a different one of the strands 12 and an outer casing 17 surrounding the sheaths 15. The composition 16 is applied to the cable 10 and includes a mixture of an adhesive substance which remains in a tacky state, a heat resistant substance and an abrasive particulate substance. When the cable 10 is shredded in a cable recycling machine which is operable to shred the cable into particles to facilitate extraction of the metal conductor therefrom, the adhesive substance adheres to parts of the machine and the shredded particles of the cable 10 and the abrasive substance damages blades of the machine, thereby hampering the separation of the strands 12 from the jacket 14. The heat resistant substance protects the jacket 14 and the adhesive substance from heat applied to the cable 10.

Description

AN ELECTRICAL CABLE, METHOD AND COMPOSITION FOR HAMPERING

RECYCLING OF AN ELECTRICAL CABLE

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an electrical cable, method and composition for hampering recycling of an electrical cable.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

The theft of electrical cable such as telephone cable and power cable is a well known problem, particularly in developing countries. Electrical cable is stolen in order to extract the metal electrical conductor from the electrical cable, typically copper, aluminium, or the like, from the electrical cable. The extracted metal is then sold for profit. In this specification the term "electrical cable" must be interpreted to mean one or more strands of a metal electrical conductor and a jacket including at least one dielectric sheath surrounding at least one of the strands of the electrical conductor. The electrical cable may, for example, be in the form of an electrical power cable comprising a plurality of twisted or braided strands of the electrical conductor enclosed in a dielectric sheath. Alternatively, the electrical cable may, for example, be in the form of a telephone cable comprising a number of strands of conductor each being surrounded by a dielectric sheath for electrically insulating the strands from one another, the strands as well as the dielectric sheaths being encased in an outer casing.

In this specification any reference to a "jacket" must be interpreted to mean covering materials which surround the electrical conductor including the dielectric sheath of an electrical cable and any additional covering materials, such as, for example, an outer casing surrounding the dielectric sheath or any armouring surrounding the dielectric sheath or the outer casing.

The procedure for extracting the metal electrical conductor from an electrical cable typically involves, but not necessarily, applying heat to the electrical cable to at least partially destroy the jacket and to avoid identification of the electrical cable. Thereafter, the electrical cable is fed into one or more cable recycling machines in which the electrical cable is shredded by mechanical means such as blades thereby to form shredded particles. The portions of the jacket of said shredded particles are then separated from the portions of the electrical conductor by a variety of methods such as, for example, on the basis of weight, by means of, for example, a vibrating separation bed.

Typical cable recycling machines include, for example, a cable shredding machine, a cable shearing machine, a cable pulverising machine and a cable granulating machine. One example of a cable recycling machine is a machine selected from the Sincro range, the Eco range and the W.I.R.E. range of machines supplied by Guidetti S.r.l of 1 via Salvi, 44045, Renazzo (FE), Italy. It will be appreciated that cable recycling machines are manufactured and sold for legal and legitimate purposes, but, however, may unfortunately also be used for recycling stolen electrical cable.

In this specification, any reference to a "cable recycling machine" must be interpreted to mean a machine which is used during a process for extracting a metal electrical conductor from an electrical cable and which is operable, by any mechanical means, to produce shredded particles of an electrical cable so as to facilitate the separation of the electrical conductor of the electrical cable from the jacket of the electrical cable. The theft of electrical cable for recycling purposes is typically committed either by individual thieves or by organised crime syndicates. In the case of individual thieves, the thief typically steals a small quantity of electrical cable which is then sold to unscrupulous scrap dealers. Once the scrap dealers have accumulated sufficient electrical cable, the scrap dealers sell the electrical cable to recyclers. The thieves, scrap dealers and/or recyclers then perform cable recycling procedures on the electrical cable in order to extract the conductor from the electrical cable. Organised crime syndicates steal large quantities of electrical cable and either sell the electrical cable to scrap dealers or recyclers or perform cable recycling procedures on the stolen electrical cable within the syndicate.

A need therefore exists for a means of hampering the recycling of electrical cable thereby reducing the profitability of recycling the electrical cable, so as to reduce the incentive for stealing electrical cable. It is an object of this invention to provide an electrical cable, method and composition for hampering the recycling of an electrical cable.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an electrical cable for hampering recycling of the electrical cable, the electrical cable including: one or more strands of an electrical conductor; a jacket including at least one dielectric sheath surrounding at least one of the strands of the electrical conductor; and an adhesive substance applied to at least one of the conductor and the sheath, the adhesive substance having adhesive properties and remaining in a tacky state after application thereof, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in a cable recycling machine, the adhesive substance adheres to parts of the cable recycling machine and shredded particles of the electrical cable, thereby hampering the separation of the conductor from the jacket. The electrical cable may include an abrasive particulate substance having abrasive properties, the abrasive particulate substance being applied to at least one of the conductor and the sheath, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in the cable recycling machine, the abrasive particulate substance damages moving parts of the cable recycling machine, thereby to hamper the separation of the conductor from the jacket.

The electrical cable may further include a heat resistant substance applied to at least one of the conductor and the sheath, which has heat resistant properties for resisting heat which may be applied to the electrical cable in an attempt to destroy the jacket of the electrical cable so as to extract the electrical conductor therefrom.

At least one of the adhesive substance and the abrasive particulate substance may be applied to an inner side of one of the covering materials constituting the jacket of the electrical cable. The heat resistant substance may be applied to an inner side of one of the covering materials constituting the jacket of the electrical cable. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for hampering recycling of an electrical cable, the method including: applying an adhesive substance to the electrical cable wherein the adhesive substance adheres to the electrical cable and remains tacky after application thereof, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in a cable recycling machine, the adhesive substance adheres to parts of the cable recycling machine and shredded particles of the electrical cable, thereby hampering the separation of the conductor from a jacket of the electrical cable.

The method may include applying a heat resistant substance to the electrical cable which has heat resistant properties for resisting heat which may be applied to the electrical cable in an attempt to destroy the jacket of the electrical cable so as to extract the electrical conductor therefrom.

The method may include applying an abrasive particulate substance having abrasive properties to the electrical cable, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in the cable recycling machine, the abrasive particulate substance damages moving parts of the cable recycling machine thereby to hamper the separation of the conductor from the jacket.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a composition for use with an electrical cable for hampering recycling of the electrical cable, the composition including: an adhesive substance for bonding the composition to the electrical cable wherein the adhesive substance remains in a tacky state after application of the adhesive substance to the electrical cable, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in a cable recycling machine, the adhesive substance adheres to parts of the cable recycling machine and shredded particles of the electrical cable, thereby hampering the separation of the conductor from the jacket.

The adhesive substance may comprise one of a silicate, a synthetic oil and a synthetic grease.

The composition may further include a heat resistant substance which provides the composition with heat resistant properties for resisting heat which may be applied to the electrical cable in an attempt to destroy the jacket of the electrical cable so as to extract the electrical conductor therefrom. The heat resistant substance may comprise antimony trioxide. The composition may include an abrasive particulate substance having abrasive properties, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in the cable recycling machine, the abrasive particulate substance damages moving parts of the cable recycling machine, thereby to hamper the separation of the conductor from the jacket. The abrasive particulate substance may comprise hard mineral particles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a fragmentary perspective view of an electrical cable in accordance with the invention, in the form of a telephone cable;

Figure 2 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of an electrical cable in accordance with the invention, in the form of another type of telephone cable; Figure 3 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a third embodiment of an electrical cable in accordance with the invention, in the form of an electrical power cable; Figure 4 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an electrical cable in accordance with the invention, in the form of another type of electrical power cable;

Figure 5 shows a top view of the power cable of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 shows a table showing eight examples of compositions in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, an electrical cable in accordance with the invention, in the form of a telephone cable, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.

The telephone cable 10 includes strands 12 of a copper electrical conductor and a jacket 14.

The jacket 14 comprises dielectric sheaths 15 which each surround a different one of the copper strands 12 and an outer casing 17 which surrounds all of the dielectric sheaths. The copper strands 12 and their associated dielectric sheaths are arranged into pairs and twisted around one another as shown in Figure 1 .

The telephone cable 10 is configured for hampering the separation of the copper strands 12 from the jacket of the telephone cable 10 in the event of the telephone cable 10 being stolen by a thief and an attempt is made to extract the valuable copper strands 12 from the telephone cable 10. After stealing an electrical cable in order to extract the valuable metal conductor therefrom, the electrical cable is typically initially burned in an attempt to at least partially destroy the jacket. This may involve, for example, placing the electrical cable in a container with a combustible liquid, such as, petroleum which is ignited in order to at least partially destroy the jacket of the electrical cable in an attempt to avoid identification of the electrical cable and to at least partially remove or destroy the jacket of the electrical cable. The electrical cable is thereafter fed into a cable recycling machine in an attempt to shred the electrical cable by mechanical means thereby to form shredded particles of the electrical cable, for reasons which will be explained below.

One example of a cable recycling machine is known as a model No. W.I.R.E. 415 or model No. W.I.R.E. 530 supplied by Guidetti S.r.l of 1 via Salvi, 44045, Renazzo (FE), Italy. The cable recycling machine includes a granulator and a shredding mechanism comprising three rotating blades and two stationary blades for shredding an electrical cable to form shredded particles of the electrical cable. The cable recycling machine further includes a sieve defining apertures through which the shredded particles of the electrical cable are passed, in use, and a separator in the form of a vibrating dry separator into which sieved shredded particles of the electrical cable are passed for separating portions of the jacket of the shredded particles from portions of the electrical conductor.

The telephone cable 10 further includes a composition 16 including a mixture of an adhesive substance, a heat resistant substance and an abrasive particulate substance. The composition is applied to the telephone cable 10 between the dielectric sheaths 15 and the outer casing 17 and is bonded thereto.

The adhesive substance of the composition 16 has adhesive properties for bonding to the dielectric sheaths and the outer casing 17 and remains in a tacky state after being applied to the telephone cable 10. The adhesive substance comprises "Xiameter PMX- 200 Silicone fluid" supplied by Dow Corning Corporation of Corporate Centre, Midland, Ml, 48686-0994, USA.

The abrasive particulate substance of the composition 16, comprises particles of garnet stone which is a hard substance having abrasive properties. The applicant has found that increasing the amount of abrasive particulate substance 20 added to the telephone cable 10 increases internal frictional forces within the telephone cable 10 acting between the dielectric sheaths 15 and the outer casing 17. As such, increased amounts of abrasive particulate substance 20 added to the telephone cable 10 thus reduces the "slippage" or relative movement between the dielectric sheaths 15 and the outer casing 17.

The heat resistant substance of the composition 16, has heat resistant properties for resisting heat applied to the telephone cable 10 in an attempt to destroy the jacket of the electrical cable so as to extract the electrical conductor therefrom. The heat resistant substance comprises antimony trioxide. The heat resistant substance is provided in a concentration sufficient to permit the telephone cable 10 to withstand heat from an accelerant fire without impeding the adhesive and tacky properties of the adhesive substance 16 and/or without permitting complete destruction of the jacket 14.

The composition 16 further includes a thickening substance, and a coloured substance which provides a visual indication that the telephone cable 10 is not suitable to be recycled, for reasons which will be explained in more detail below. The thickening substance includes chromium (III) oxide and is operable to increase the viscosity of the adhesive substance, when necessary, to obtain a suitable viscosity for the particular application. The applicant has found that oxides of chromium and silicone dioxide are suitable for increasing the viscosity of the adhesive substance. The coloured substance is operable to provide a distinctive colour to the telephone cable 10 to visually distinguish the telephone cable 10 of the invention from other telephone cables. The applicant has found that in addition to its thickening properties, Chromium (III) Oxide is also suitable as a coloured substance as Chromium (III) Oxide is available in various colours, for example a green colour. The applicant envisages that distinctive green coloured Chromium (III) Oxide will provide a visual indication to a potential thief that the telephone cable is a telephone cable 10 in accordance with this invention, and as such, is not suitable for recycling purposes.

In use, if, for example, a length of the telephone cable 10 were to be stolen by a thief who attempts to extract the copper strands 12 by burning the jacket 14 by means of a petroleum fire, the heat resistant substance will protect the jacket 14 and protect the adhesive substance of the telephone cable 10 from the heat and flames of the fire. It will also be appreciated that the heat resistant substance will prevent the adhesive substance from being destroyed or from loosing its tackyness. Due to its hardness and abrasive properties, in use, the abrasive particulate substance will cause the shredding mechanism, the blades and other moving parts of the cable recycling machine to become blunt and/or worn.

It will be appreciated that operation of the machine with blunt blades will result in increased load on the motor and the drive chain of the machine, thereby hampering the separation of shredded particles of the telephone cable from one another. It will also be appreciated that due to the action of the abrasive particulate substance, the cable recycling machine will have to be stopped more frequently in order to sharpen or replace the blades of the cable recycling machine. The abrasive particulate substance will thus cause an increased interruption of the use of the cable recycling machine and will cause the cable recycling machine to be unproductive while the blades are replaced. It will be appreciated that the abrasive particulate substance will thus hamper the shredding of the telephone cable 10 and thereby reduce the profitability of recycling the telephone cable 10, thereby resulting in lower prices being paid for stolen telephone cable 10 and thereby reducing the thief's incentive for stealing the telephone cable 10. Furthermore, due to the tackyness of the adhesive substance, the shredded particles of the cable shredded in the cable recycling machine will tend to stick to one another. More particularly, due to the tacky adhesive properties of the adhesive substance, the shredded particles of the cable will stick to one another thereby forming amorphous masses of the shredded particles. The amorphous masses of shredded particles will clog the apertures of the sieve, thereby preventing the shredded particles from passing through the apertures of the sieve, in use. It will also be appreciated that the vibrating dry separator of the electrical cable recycling machine separates the shredded particles, which have passed through the sieve, on the basis of weight by means of the vibrating dry separator which is configured for separate portions of the jacket of said shredded particles from portions of conductor of said shredded particles. The vibrating dry separator will thus become ineffectual in separating the portions of the jacket of said shredded particles from portions of the conductor of said shredded particles as the adhesive substance will also cause the portions of the jacket of the shredded particles and portions of conductor of the shredded particles to stick to one another.

Furthermore, the adhesive substance will cause the shredded particles of the telephone cable 10 to adhere to parts of the machine thereby clogging the machine and preventing the flow of materials through the machine. Manual intervention will be required in order to periodically stop the machine in order to clean the shredding mechanism, the blades, the sieve, the vibrating dry separator and other parts of the machine that come into contact with the adhesive substance. It will be appreciated that the adhesive substance will thus hamper the shredding of the telephone cable 10 by adhering the shredded particles to parts of the machine and to one another and thereby reducing the profitability of recycling the telephone cable 10, thereby resulting in lower prices being paid for the stolen telephone cable 10 and thereby reducing the thief's incentive for stealing telephone cable 10.

The invention extends also to the composition 16 for use with the telephone cable 10. With reference to the table of Figure 6, eight examples of a composition 16 in accordance with the invention are provided, each example comprising a different mixture of two or more of the adhesive substance, the heat resistant substance, the abrasive particulate substance, the thickening substance and the coloured substance of the composition. It will be appreciated that many other mixtures other than the mixtures described in the table of Figure 6, may be suitable. It will also be appreciated that the components of the mixture will depend on various factors including the particular application for which the electrical cable is used, the cable type and/or cost considerations. It will thus be appreciated that the table of Figure 6 is provided purely for the purposes of showing a number of examples of compositions which may be suitable for the purposes stated above.

The adhesive substance is selected from the group comprising a silicate, a synthetic oil and a synthetic grease. The silicate is more particularly selected from the group comprising metal silicates and alkyl silicates. The metal silicate is selected from one of sodium silicate and magnesium silicate. The alkyl silicate is selected from one of ethyl silicate and dimethyl silicate. The synthetic oil and the synthetic grease is more specifically selected from the group comprising an ester, a halogenated synthetic oil and a halogenated synthetic grease. The halogenated synthetic oil or the halogenated synthetic grease is more specifically a fluorinated synthetic oil or a fluorinated synthetic grease.

More particularly, the applicant has found the following to be examples of suitable adhesive substances: a) Silicone fluid supplied under the trade name "Xiameter" range, including "Xiameter PMX-200 Silicone Fluid" supplied by Dow Corning Corporation of Corporate Centre, Midland, Ml, 48686-0994, USA; b) Silicone Dielectric Gel supplied by Dow Corning Corporation under the trade name "Sylgard", including "Sylgard 527 Silicone Dielectric gel - Part A"; c) Silicone Dielectric Gel supplied by Dow Corning Corporation under the trade name "Sylgard", including "Sylgard 527 Silicone Dielectric Gel - Part B"; d) Silicone electrical insulating compound supplied by Dow Corning Corporation, including "DC4 Dimethyl Silicone Electrical Insulating Compound"; and e) High temperature anticorrosion fluorinated synthetic grease supplied under the trade name "Krytox" by E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, 1007, Market Street, Willmington, DE, 19898, USA, including "Krytox 227"; f) Synthetic oils supplied under the trade name of "Fluoronox" range supplied by Teccem of PO Box 424, Welland, Ontario, L3B5R2, Canada; g) Synthetic oils supplied under the trade name of "Omega" range supplied by Magna Industrial Corporation, 1801 , Guardian House, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong; h) Synthetic lubricants supplied under the trade name "Emkarox" and the trade name "Priolube" supplied by Croda International, of Pic, Cowick Hall, Snaith,

Goole, East Yorkshire, DN149AA, UK i) Esters and synthetic fluids and greases supplied under the trade name "Nyco" and supplied by Nyco S.A., 66 Av Des Champs, Elysess, BP, 414, Paris, 75366, France; j) Synthetic fluids and greases supplied under the trade name "Habot", supplied by Habot Marketing (Pty) Ltd of 1 1 Anvil Road, Krugersdorp, 1740, South Africa; k) Synthetic greases supplied under the trade name "Mobil" supplied by Exxon Mobil Corporation of 3225, Gallow Road, Fairfax, VA, 22037, USA, including "Mobiltemp SHC" and "Mobilith SHC". Certain of the substances listed in paragraphs b) to k) above have sufficient heat and or flame resistant properties so as to resist heat applied to the electrical cable in an attempt to destroy the jacket of the cable and as such, do not require a heat resistant substance to be applied thereto, as can be seen from compositions 2 to 8 of the table of Figure 6.

The applicant has found that either "Sylgard 527 Silicone Dielectric Gel - Part A" or "Sylgard 527 Silicone Dielectric Gel - Part B" is suitable to be selected as the adhesive substance, but particularly cannot be used together. "Sylgard 527 Silicone Dielectric Gel - Part A" and "Sylgard 527 Silicone Dielectric Gel - Part B" react with one another so as to cure when mixed together and, as such, the mixture does not remain in a tacky state. As such, each one of "Sylgard 527 Silicone Dielectric Gel - Part A" and "Silgard 527 Silicone Dielectric Gel - Part B" are only suitable when used alone without the other. The abrasive particulate substance is selected from the group comprising hard synthetic minerals, and hard naturally occurring minerals. The applicant has found garnet stone to be particularly suitable.

The invention extends also to a method for hampering the recycling of the telephone cable 10, the method including the steps of applying the composition 16 to the telephone cable 10.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the composition 16 is applied to an inner side of the outer casing 17 of the jacket 14 of the telephone cable 10 and to the spaces surrounding the dielectric sheaths 15. More particularly, the Applicant envisages that the composition 16 will be incorporated into the telephone cable 10 by the manufacturers, in accordance with generally well known procedures for electrical cable manufacture and procedures for the introduction of other known compositions introduced into the telephone cable 10 during manufacture. As these procedures are generally well known, they are not be dealt with in further detail herein.

It will be appreciated that as the composition 16 is applied to the inner side of the outer casing 17 and the spaces surrounding the dielectric sheaths 15, the adhesive substance thereof is not exposed to air in the atmosphere and as such, the adhesive substance remains tacky for a relatively long period of time when compared to the expected life of the electrical cable 10.

With reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, a second embodiment of an electrical cable in accordance with the invention, in the form of a different type of telephone cable is designated generally by the reference numeral 1 10.

The telephone cable 1 10 is similar to telephone cable 10, in all respects, save as stated below. Consequently, what is stated above, with regard to the telephone cable 10, applies equally to the telephone cable 1 10. As such the same reference numerals used in relation to telephone cable 10 are used in relation to telephone cable 1 10. The telephone cable 1 10 of Figure 2 differs from the telephone cable 10 of Figure 1 in that the telephone cable 10 of Figure 1 includes eight copper strands 12, whereas the telephone cable 1 10 of Figure 2 includes hundreds of strands of electrical conductors in the form of copper strands 12 (only some of which are shown in Figure 2), a jacket 14 and the composition 16. The jacket 14 of the telephone cable 1 10 comprises hundreds of dielectric sheaths 15, which each surround a different one of the copper strands 12 and an outer casing 17 which surrounds the dielectric sheaths 15.

With reference to Figure 3 of the drawings, a third embodiment of an electrical cable in accordance with the invention, in the form of an electrical power cable is designated generally by the reference numeral 210. The electrical power cable 210 is similar to the telephone cable 10. Consequently, what is stated above, with regards to the telephone cable 10, applies equally to the electrical power cable 210. As such the same and/or similar reference numerals used in relation to telephone cable 10 are used in relation to the electrical power cable 210.

The electrical power cable 210 of Figure 3 differs from the telephone cable 10 of Figure 1 in that the electrical power cable 210 is configured for conducting high electrical current. As such, the electrical power cable 210 of Figure 3 includes bundles of strands of electrical conductors in the form of copper strands 12 which are twisted together (not shown twisted), a jacket 214 and the composition 16.

The jacket 214 of the electrical power cable 210 comprises six dielectric sheaths 215 which each surround a different bundle of copper strands 12, an outer casing 217 which surrounds the six dielectric sheaths 215 and armouring in the form of strands of steel reinforcing wire 22 disposed within the outer casing 217.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, a fourth embodiment of a electrical cable in accordance with the invention, in the form of another type of electrical power cable is designated generally by the reference numeral 310.

The electrical power cable 310 is similar to the electrical power cable 210. Consequently, what is stated above, with regards to the electrical power cable 210, applies equally to the electrical power cable 310. As such the same and/or similar reference numerals used in relation to electrical power cable 210 are used in relation to the electrical power cable 310. The electrical power cable 310 of Figures 4 and 5 includes bundles of strands of electrical conductor in the form of copper strands 12, a jacket 314 and the composition 16.

The jacket 314 of electrical power cable 310 comprises four dielectric sheaths 315 which each surround a different bundle of copper strands 12, an outer casing 317 which surrounds the four dielectric sheaths 315 and armouring in the form of strands of steel reinforcing wire 22 disposed within the outer casing 317.

The composition 16 used in the electrical power cable 310 is the composition of example 6 of the table of Figure 6, comprising an adhesive substance in the form of "DC4 Dimethyl Silicone Electrical Insulating Compound", an abrasive particulate substance in the form of garnet stone, and a coloured substance in the form of Chromium (III) Oxide. The applicant has found that many of the compositions listed in the table of Figure 6, including the composition of example 6, have dielectric properties, which permits the composition to be applied directly to the copper strands 12.

It will be appreciated that the electrical cables 10, 210, 310, in accordance with the invention, the composition in accordance with the invention, and the method in accordance with the invention, as hereinabove described, may vary greatly while still embodying the essential features of the invention as hereinabove described. As such, it will be appreciated that the electrical cable, in accordance with the invention, may have a different configuration from the electrical cables 10, 210, 310, described and illustrated hereinabove.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . An electrical cable for hampering recycling of the electrical cable, the electrical cable including: one or more strands of an electrical conductor; a jacket including at least one dielectric sheath surrounding at least one of the strands of the electrical conductor; and an adhesive substance applied to at least one of the conductor and the sheath, the adhesive substance having adhesive properties and remaining in a tacky state after application thereof, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in a cable recycling machine, the adhesive substance adheres to parts of the cable recycling machine and shredded particles of the electrical cable, thereby hampering the separation of the conductor from the jacket.

2. The electrical cable as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the electrical cable includes an abrasive particulate substance having abrasive properties, the abrasive particulate substance being applied to at least one of the conductor and the sheath, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in the cable recycling machine, the abrasive particulate substance damages moving parts of the cable recycling machine, thereby to hamper the separation of the conductor from the jacket.

3. The electrical cable as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the electrical cable further includes a heat resistant substance applied to at least one of the conductor and the sheath, which has heat resistant properties for resisting heat which may be applied to the electrical cable in an attempt to destroy the jacket of the electrical cable so as to extract the electrical conductor therefrom.

4. The electrical cable as claimed in Claim 2, wherein at least one of the adhesive substance and the abrasive particulate substance is applied to an inner side of one of the covering materials constituting the jacket of the electrical cable.

5. The electrical cable as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the heat resistant substance is applied to an inner side of one of the covering materials constituting the jacket of the electrical cable.

6. A method for hampering recycling of an electrical cable, the method including: applying an adhesive substance to the electrical cable wherein the adhesive substance adheres to the electrical cable and remains tacky after application thereof, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in a cable recycling machine, the adhesive substance adheres to parts of the cable recycling machine and shredded particles of the electrical cable, thereby hampering the separation of the conductor from a jacket of the electrical cable.

7. The method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the method includes applying a heat resistant substance to the electrical cable, which has heat resistant properties for resisting heat which may be applied to the electrical cable in an attempt to destroy the jacket of the electrical cable so as to extract the electrical conductor therefrom.

8. The method as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the method includes applying an abrasive particulate substance having abrasive properties to the electrical cable, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in the cable recycling machine, the abrasive particulate substance damages moving parts of the cable recycling machine thereby to hamper the separation of the conductor from the jacket.

9. A composition for use with an electrical cable for hampering recycling of the electrical cable, the composition including: an adhesive substance for bonding the composition to the electrical cable wherein the adhesive substance remains in a tacky state after application of the adhesive substance to the electrical cable, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in a cable recycling machine, the adhesive substance adheres to parts of the cable recycling machine and shredded particles of the electrical cable, thereby hampering the separation of the conductor from the jacket.

10. The composition as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the adhesive substance comprises one of a silicate , a synthetic oil and a synthetic grease.

1 1 . The composition as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the composition includes a heat resistant substance which provides the composition with heat resistant properties for resisting heat which may be applied to the electrical cable in an attempt to destroy the jacket of the electrical cable so as to extract the electrical conductor therefrom.

12. The composition as claimed in Claim 1 1 , wherein the heat resistant substance comprises antimony trioxide.

13. The composition as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 12, wherein the composition includes an abrasive particulate substance having abrasive properties, whereby when the electrical cable is shredded in the cable recycling machine, the abrasive particulate substance damages moving parts of the cable recycling machine, thereby to hamper the separation of the conductor from the jacket.

14. The composition as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the abrasive particulate substance comprises hard mineral particles.