Cables for on-shore and off-shore industries must be reliable enough to operate daily with heavy machinery and equipment and withstand the harshest environments, often moving continuously. Safe, reliable cables that use high-quality compounds in their jackets, sheathing, and bedding, can ensure life safety and the long operating life of plants, equipment, machinery, platforms, and vessels.
Üntel Kablo, one of the world’s leading industrial cable manufacturers, currently produces over 15,000 types of cable products for use within a broad range of industry sectors, including:
- oil & gas
- renewable energy
- ports & harbours
- airports
- mining
- petrochemical plants & refineries
- shipbuilding & marine
- industrial plants & factories
Outer jacketing for these cables may require various properties, such as:
- fire resistance
- low smoke
- resistance to various outdoor conditions
- crack resistance when bending
- stable performance at elevated temperatures
- durability under torsional stress and shock
- water resistance – even under high hydrostatic pressure.
R&D Centre
To meet customer requirements, Üntel established an R&D Centre with an expert team to design novel, high technology-high performance products. Gürcan GÜL heads the R&D team at Üntel and has brought years of experience working within the automotive rubber tire industry. Together, the R&D team works with all areas of the company, and its customers, help to develop the various cable jacketing compounds used in Üntel extensive product range. The R&D team also researches new product areas to address emerging markets.
PVC Cable Compounds
PVC based compounds have been used extensively in cable insulation instead of rubber since 1932. Some disadvantages of PVC are high dielectric strength, high induction loss and heat build-up; therefore, PVC cables operate at AC voltages just up to 10 kV. Compound formulations can be designed to customise the processing conditions, application temperature range, mechanical characteristics, flexibility, and flammability. Some adjustments are:
- Plasticisers can increase the continuous operating temperature limit to 105°C.
- Specific fillers such as aluminium trihydroxide (ATH) can systematically reduce flammability and smoke formation.
Polyethylene – Moisture Cross-linkable Systems
Moisture cross-linkable (curable) systems allow users to cross-link polymer matrix without using an expensive curing process, which requires considerable energy. These systems offer multi-component compound additives for customer-specific final product requirements, along with lower production costs. Low voltage polyolefin cable applications include:
- appliances
- automotive
- control
- LV power
- UL 44
- low voltage flame retardant products
EPR Moisture Cross-linkable Systems
EPR based systems provide improved flexibility while maintaining high-overall performance. With EPR compounds, you can manufacture low voltage polyolefin cable products for applications such as:
- appliances
- automotive
- control
- UL 44
- low voltage flame retardant products
Besides, the investment cost is relatively lower for EPR cable production.
Peroxide Cross-linkable EPR Compounds
Peroxide cross-linkable EPR compounds offer high-temperature stability and superior electrical performance. However, manufacturers need to have CV Lines (Catenary Continuous Vulcanisation Lines) to cross-link this material type. Production on CV Lines is expensive; however, both low and medium voltage cable production is possible. EPR cable applications include:
- appliances
- control
- oil & gas
- shipboard
- nuclear
- PV
- power
- UL 44
- power distribution
- industrial
- utility
- mining
- UL 1072
Cross-linkable Polyolefin Compounds
Cross-linkable, elastomeric polyolefin compounds offer high temperature, good mechanical and electrical properties, and thermal stability. Elastomeric compounds are used in specific products such as:
- lMV/HV filled XLPE insulation
- low voltage FR polyolefin insulation
- battery cable EPR
- low voltage VW-1 shipboard insulation
- low voltage FR EPR insulation
Applications include:
- appliances
- control
- industrial
- power
- shipboard
- UL 44
- oil & gas
- power distribution
- utility
- automotive
Thermoplastic LSZH, FR Jackets
LSZH compounds are used in halogen-free cables and often provide:
- excellent flame retardancy
- heat and deformation resistance
- environmental and chemical resistance
- low smoke levels, low toxic fumes, and no acid release
- superior mechanical properties.
These cables are for public indoor areas, oil and gas applications, and areas with poor ventilation, such as tunnels or railways.
Bedding/Filler Compounds
Bedding & filler use halogen-free flame retardant cable filler compounds. These products help maintain cable shape, fill gaps/voids, prevent deformation, reduce water ingress, and provide additional flame-retardant benefits to the overall cable construction.
As well as the compounds mentioned above, Üntel also handles many other compound types, which have recently started to be used in various new industry applications. Some of these materials are:
- TPU
- TPE-E
- PTFE
- TPV
Üntel’s products are highly respected and widely used within a broad range of industry sectors thanks to half a century of experience and international recognition by over 200 reputable organisations. Üntel continues developing and improving new products to welcome new emerging markets.