VESTAMID^® protects high-performance cables

Polyamide 12-based VESTAMID^® compounds have been used for years in the following applications:

• copper core insulation
• cable sheathing
• cable conduits
• plastic optical fiber sheaths

With VESTAMID^® Terra DS, Evonik has now extended its range of high-performance compounds for cables to include a semicrystalline and 100% bio-based polyamide of high mechanical strength and resistance to chemicals and stress cracking.

Materials for the above applications must satisfy the following requirements:

• good processability
• high melt strength
• low linear expansion coefficient
• high elastic modulus and good flex cracking resistance
• resistance to stress cracking by cable filling compounds and solvents such as alcohols and ketones that are used in splicing
• low water absorption
• good resistance to hydrolysis
• high compressive strength

VESTAMID^® polyamide compounds set themselves apart from the rest because of their

• very high mechanical strength
• outstanding chemical resistance
• low sliding friction
• excellent abrasion resistance
• outstanding weathering stability
• consistent property profile over a wide temperature range

VESTAMID^® cable sheathing as protection against rodents and termites

VESTAMID^® L2170 is a PA 12 grade with high viscosity and excellent weathering resistance. Telecommunications companies in Australia, India, Brazil, and Thailand have been using this material for underground cables for many years. The VESTAMID^® L2170 sheath protects the cable from damage caused by rodents and termites.

Halogen-free and phosphorus-free flame-retardant VESTAMID^®
VESTAMID^® L1670 is a low-viscosity and weathering-stable polyamide 12 compound that can be extruded with very high draw-off speeds to give very thin copper-wire insulation.

For copper core insulation as well, we offer a range of flame-retardant compounds with halogen-free and phosphorus-free flame retardants. In case of a fire, these VESTAMID^® compounds emit only small amounts of smoke.

VESTAMID^® X7166, a halogen-free and phosphorus-free self-extinguishing PA 12 compound with flammability V-0 for thickness 0.8 mm under UL 94 and an LOI (Limiting Oxygen Index) greater than 32% is optimized for thin wire insulation.

VESTAMID^® LX9104 is a halogen-free and phosphorus-free, flame-retardant, flexible PA 12 compound with flammability V-0 for thickness 0.8 mm under UL 94 and an LOI of 28%. Because of its excellent impact resistance, the material is used for, for example, corrugated pipes and cable conduits subjected to high dynamic loads over a wide temperature window.

Polymer optical fibers (POFs)

For polymer optical fibers (POFs), Evonik has developed a VESTAMID^® two-layer sheathing system for protection of the PMMA optical data medium. The first (black) layer consists of a polyamide 12 (VESTAMID^® L1604) layer optimized for bonding to a PMMA core. In addition to providing mechanical protection, it increases the refractive index by virtue of its color, so that scattering of light is avoided and optical transmission improved. Optical plug-in connectors can also be attached by laser welding.

The outer layer consists of the halogen-free and phosphorus-free flame-retardant compound VESTAMID^® LX9057. This gives the system good resistance to aging, chemicals, and hydrolysis as well as excellent flame retardant properties. Because it does not adhere to the inner VESTAMID^® L1604 layer, it is easy to thermoform.