Background of the Invention

The invention relates to electrically insulative polymeric films useful as conductive insulators and electrical tape backings.

Description of the Related Art

Various electrically insulative resins are known in the art. Polyolefins have been used in various resins, with and without flame retardancy in the electrical industry. Most insulative films which are used commercially, and have both good flame retardancy and good physical properties contain some vinyl chloride. Because of the toxins produced when such compositions are burned, either accidentally or when discarded, it is desirable to reduce the halogen content as much as is possible, particularly chlorine content. However, it is difficult to attain both the flame retardancy and the physical properties such as tensile and elongation in an alternative product. This is especially true of films being used for tape backings in the electrical industry where the tapes must stretch and drape in a certain manner to be acceptable for use.

U.S. Patent 5,017,637 discloses fire-retardant thermoplastic compounds that are chemically crosslinked, comprising 5-60% olefinic copolymers, 1-15% organopolysiloxane, and 20-85% flame retardant. Preferred embodiments include a copoly er, and an additional elastomer or ethylene copolymer. The preferred elastomers are EP or EPDM copolymers. Ethylene vinylacetate is also disclosed. Metal oxide hydrates are used as the fire-retardant compound.

U.S. 3,941,859 discloses EPDM polymers physically blended with polyethylene and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having improved tensile strengths. Use as wire

and cable insulation is disclosed. It is specifically stated that EP copolymers do not provide the properties required.

JP 3149240 discloses a composition useful as a wire coating comprising 100 parts of polyolefin, 80-200 parts of a metal hydroxide for fire retardancy, and a silane coupling agent. The example disclosed contains 80 parts of EP rubber, 20 parts of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and 110 parts of magnesium hydroxide, 5 parts of a silane, along with minor ingredients such as carbon black and a crosslinking agent.

U.S. Patent 5,071,904 discloses ammonium polyphosphate particles treated with a cationic surfactant to impart flame retardancy. The particles are used in a resin which may be polyolefins, epoxy, or polyether urethanes.

JP 3134041 discloses a polyolefin resin with flame retardant and a specific triazine which is useful as a coating material for electrical wires and cables. PCT WO 83/00488 discloses a flame retardant insulative wire coating comprising a polyolefin resin containing two flame retardants; a brominated flame retardant and antimony oxide. It is disclosed that the tensile strength of such compositions is about 2100 psi, and the elongation is about 400%.

AUS-B-39114/85 discloses a flame retardant insulative composition comprising copolymers of ethylene and acrylic esters. Aluminum hydroxide is used as the flame retardant. EPO 391336 discloses polypropylene and silane containing ammonium polyphosphate particles for flame retardance.

U.S. Patent 3,922,442 discloses a ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer containing a silane which is used for electrical conductor coatings.

U.S. Patent 3,832,326 discloses an electrical wire coating comprising at least 66% of crosslinkable ethylene

vinyl acetate copolymer, and a minor amount of a polyolefin. Silane treated hydrated inorganic fillers are added for flame retardancy. Elongations of 140% to

425% are disclosed. U.S. Patent 4,772,642 discloses a resin containing polyolefins, preferably polypropylene. Ammonium polyphosphate particles are used for flame retardance, and a melamine resin is preferred to encapsulate the particles. EP 466193 discloses an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer useful for cable jacketing containing magnesium hydroxide for flame retardancy.

GB 272071 discloses a resin containing ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers having a vinyl acetate level of more than 60%, and a minor amount of acrylonitrile- butadiene copolymer.

Polyolefins and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers are also known for use in non-flame retardant tape backings. U.S. Patent 4,036,912 discloses a closure tape for a disposable diaper having as its backing, a blend of an ethylene-propylene or ethylene-propylene diene polymer and a crystalline polypropylene polymer.

U.S. Patents 4,808,474 and 4,769,283 disclose a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape backing having improved toughness comprising blends of crystalline isotactic polypropylene and compatible flexible polymers (in the former) or compatible ethylene containing polymers (in the latter) , such polymers including EPDM and/or EVA.

U.S. 4,985,024 discloses a biodegradable pressure- sensitive adhesive tape backing comprising such a blend combined with an unsaturated elastomer.

U.S. Patent 5,134,012 discloses a fixing tape for a disposable diaper comprising a two or three layer construction; a plastics film layer, a polymer blend layer, and an adhesive layer. The plastics film layer may contain an EVA copolymer, and EP copolymer, or a

combination thereof; the polymer blend layer contains at least two resins selected from EVA, EP, and polyethylene.

However, these attempts to produce a film for the electrical industry, and especially for tape backings, have not been able to produce a film with the required flame retardance and physical properties.

The present inventors have found that films comprising ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers and an elastomer selected from ethylene propylene (EP) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubbers and an effective amount of a specific flame retardant system will provide an electrically insulative film with good physical properties without vinyl chloride. The films have a total halogen content of less than 8%. Further, such films will provide electrical tape backings having the feel, and handling properties of the most popular poly(vinyl chloride) backings with minimal amounts of halogen, which reduces or eliminates the release of toxic gases into the air, and also reduces negative environmental aspects from processing and disposal.

Summary of the Invention The invention provides a low-halogen, electrically insulating film having a total halogen content of 1 to 8%, comprising a resin component containing: a) from 0 to 40 parts of a rubber selected from EP or EPDM rubber, b) correspondingly, from 60 to 100 parts of an ethylene vinyl acetate polymer, c) from 20% to 40% based on said resin component, of a flame retardant system comprising i) from 5 to 25% of a bromine containing flame retardant, ii) from 1.5% to 10% of an antimony containing flame retardant, and iii) from 1% to 20% of a flame retardant

selected from granular metal oxide hydrates, wherein said flame retardant system has a ratio of metal oxide hydrate to bromine of no more than 3; said film being free of vinyl chloride, wherein a nonoriented film self-extinguishes in less than 5 seconds, has an elongation at break of at least 500%, a dielectric strength of at least 1200 V/Mil, and a stress- strain curve having a wholly positive slope. Insulating films of the invention are suitable for use as an electrical tape backing. Preferred electrical tape backings are low-halogen electrical tape backings having a total halogen content of 1% to 8% comprising a) from 10 to 40 parts of a rubber selected from EP or EPDM rubber, b) correspondingly, from 60 to 90 parts of an ethylene vinyl acetate polymer, c) from 20% to 40% based on said resin component, of a flame retardant system comprising i) from 5 to 25% of a bromine containing flame retardant, ii) from 1.5% to 10% antimony oxide, and iii) from 1% to 20% of aluminum trihydrate, wherein said flame retardant system has a ratio of aluminum trihydrate to bromine of no more than 3; said film being free of vinyl chloride, wherein a nonoriented film self-extinguishes in less than 5 seconds, has an elongation at break of at least 500%, a dielectric strength of at least 1200 V/Mil, and a stress- strain curve having a wholly positive slope.

The invention also provides electrical tapes comprising a backing film having a total halogen content of 1% to 8%, comprising a resin component containing: a) from 0 to 40 parts of a rubber selected from EP or EPDM rubber,

b) correspondingly, from 60 to 100 parts of an ethylene vinyl acetate polymer, c) from 20% to 40% based on said resin component, of a flame retardant system comprising i) from 5 to 25% of a bromine containing flame retardant, ii) from 1.5% to 10% of an antimony containing flame retardant, and iii) from 1% to 20% granular aluminum trihydrate, wherein said flame retardant system has a ratio of aluminum trihydrate to bromine of no more than 3; said film being free of vinyl chloride, wherein said tape self-extinguishes in less than 5 seconds, has an elongation at break of at least 500%, a dielectric strength of at least 1200 V/Mil, and a stress- strain curve having a wholly positive slope, and an adhesive coated on one major surface of said backing.

As used herein the term "low halogen" includes all film compositions having an actual halogen content of from 1% to 8%.

As used herein, the term "granular" refers to particulates prepared by grinding processes, and does not include precipitated particulates. All weights, percents, parts, and ratios herein are by weight unless specifically noted otherwise.

Description of the Drawings FIGs. 1 and 2 show the stress-strain curve for various unfilled resin compositions. EVA/EPDM, EVA block copolymer blends and ionomer blends are unique in their elongation, tensile strength and minimal yield/necking tendencies when compared with other resin blends.

FIG. 3 shows that a filled blend outside the scope of the invention exhibits very poor elongation.

FIG. 4 shows that films containing a coupling agent exhibit improved tensile-elongation properties.

FIG. 5 shows that a film of the invention retains elongation and mechanical properties closely resembling the ambient properties of plasticized PVC even at -18°C whereas the PVC film becomes very stiff, exhibits a yield point and is brittle at the low temperature.

FIGs. 6 and 7 compare tensile performance of a film of the invention and a poly(vinylchloride) film at ambient temperature and at 100°C, as a function of amount of irradiation. The filled blend retains elongation and mechanical properties more closely resembling the ambient properties of plasticized PVC. Tensile values for all films drop considerably as the temperature is raised. The tensile values for blends of this invention do not drop as greatly as tensile values for plasticized vinyl film.

FIG. 8 shows ambient stress-strain curves of two comparative products and a filled film of this invention, Example 30, (with post-processing) , compared with plasticized PVC. The film of the invention shows good tensile properties and the wholly positive slope required for good mechanical performance. The comparative products do not show such slope and good tensile properties.

FIG. 9 shows the amount of unrecovered strain/initial strain of a PVC film plotted versus initial strain for Example 30. The unrecovered strain is less for the filled blend film up to about 75% initial strain. Strain recovery is an important feature for applying electrical tapes to maintain a tight wrap and aid in conformability. Typical application strains range from about 50 to 100%. In this range, the present invention is comparable to, or superior to plasticized PVC film.

FIG. 10 shows the onset dissipation factor for a film of the invention. The dissipation factor marks the temperature limit for proper insulative performance. An onset of 150°C is typical in transformer applications.

The onset of this material occurs at 180°C to 190°C, demonstrating the improved high temperature performance.

Detailed Description of the Invention Compositions of the invention comprise a resin component containing at least one ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) . Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers useful in the films of the invention contain at least 10% by weight vinyl acetate, preferably at least 15% by weight. The resin component may contain only ethylene vinyl acetate, or it may also contain a rubber selected from EP and EPDM rubbers; when such a rubber is present, the resin component may contain as little as 60 percent EVA copolymer. Useful rubber polymers comprise from 50% to 90% of ethylene, from 10% to 50% propylene, and from 0 to 3% diene.

Examples of suitable diene monomers include, but are not limited to, conjugated dienes such as isoprene, butadiene, 2,3-hexadiene, and the like, and nonconjugated dienes such as 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 2,5- dimethyl-1,5 hexadiene, 1,4-hexadiene and the like; cyclic dienes such as cyclopentadiene, cyclohexadiene, dicyclopentadiene, 3-methyl-tricyclo(5,2,l)-3,8- decadiene, and the like, and alkenyl norborenes such as 5-ethylidene-2-norborene, 2-methallyl-5-norborene, and the like. These polymers are easily prepared by well know solution or suspension polymerization techniques.

Insulative films of the invention also contain a flame retardant system. The flame retardant system is present in an amount of from 20 to 32 percent based on the resin component.

At least one bro inated flame retardant is present. Useful brominated flame retardants include decabromo- diphenyl ether and ethylene bis(tetrabromo)phthalimide. The brominated flame retardant is present in amounts of

from 5% to 25%, preferably from 3% to 7%.

The system further comprises at least one additional flame retardant containing antimony, e.g., antimony oxide or antimony oxide hydrate; such flame retardant being present in the amount of from 1.5% to 10%, preferably from 3% to 7%.

The system also contains an additional flame retardant selected from the group consisting of Group I and group II metal oxides and oxide hydrates. Preferred additional flame retardants include, but are not limited to alumina oxide trihydrate, aluminum oxide pentahydrate, and dibromo diphenyl ether, and ethylene bis(tetrabromo)phthalimide. All metal oxide hydrates present must be granular, as precipitated forms do not result in films with good properties. This is believed to be related to such factors as the particle size and the coatings used on the precipitated particles. The aluminum oxide flame retardant is present in an amount of from 1% to 20%, with the proviso that the ratio of the oxide trihydrate to the brominated flame retardant should be less or equal to 3.

Preferred insulating films of the invention also comprise a coupling agent selected from the group consisting of silane coupling agents. Alkyl silanes, amino silanes and the like are useful in films of the invention. Preferred films contain from 0.05% to 5% coupling agent.

Films of the invention may also comprise conventional additives such as reinforcing fillers, pigments such as carbon black, and Ti0 ₂ , dyes, ultraviolet stabilizers, plasticizers, fungicides, extenders, waxes, antioxidants, and the like, in amounts known to those skilled in the art.

Other useful fillers include fumed silica, calcium and magnesium carbonates, calcium and barium sulfates, aluminum silicates, and the like, which may be included in small amounts, such that they do not interfere with

the physical properties required.

Films of the invention are useful as insulative wire and pipe coatings, as insulative backings for multilayer films, and especially, as electrical tape backings. Such films would also be useful for various molded and extruded items such as shoe soles, shower curtains, kitchen ware and the like.

The films of the invention are made by physically mixing the rubber, the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and the flame retardant, along with any additives in a mill, mixer or extruder. The mixing conditions are not critical, and such processes are well known to one skilled in the art.

Films of the invention have a stress-stain curve having a wholly positive slope. Surprisingly, by balancing the flame retardant types, and amounts, the films of the invention demonstrate this slope, whereas most films have at least some portion of the slope which is negative. Electrical tapes backed with films with the positive slope demonstrate a vastly improved handling characteristic over the prior art low-halogen films; i.e., they approximate the stretch and "drape" characteristics of vinyl chloride backed electrical tapes. This is extremely critical for proper insulation and sealing of repaired cables and connections, as well as for acceptance by persons skilled in electrical maintenance and repair.

Tapes comprising backings of the invention have an improved low temperature performance as compared to prior art poly(vinyl chloride) backings. PVC film becomes very stiff, exhibits a yield point and is brittle at the low temperature. The filled blend retains good elongation and mechanical properties even at temperatures of -20°C. Further, vinyl does not have a stress-strain curve with a wholly positive slope at such low temperatures, whereas films of the invention do have a stress-strain curve which retains a positive slope even

at -20 ° C .

Electrical tapes of the invention have at least one side of the film backing coated with an adhesive. The adhesive may be any conventional adhesive known in the art, including but not limited to, natural rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, such as block copolymers, thermoset adhesives, acrylic adhesives, silicone adhesives and the like. The adhesive may further comprise such conventional additives as tackifiers, plasticizers, pigments, fillers, initiators, crosslinking agents, and the like, as desired.

The following examples are meant to be illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the claims. One skilled in the art would be able to create variations which would be within the spirit of the invention. Comparative examples are indicated by the use of the letter "C" in front of the example number.

Test Methods

Flame Retardance Flame retardance was tested by the ASTM D1000 test method. This test involves wrapping a film strip around a wire with a 50% overlap and repeating with another film strip in the opposite direction. The wrapped wire is exposed to an open flame for 30 seconds. The flame is removed and the burn time of the film is measured. Desirable flame retardance would be exhibited by a material that does not begin to burn, or self extinguishes in less than 5 seconds.

Tensile Test Tensile strength was tested by the ASTM D1000 test method.

Glossary of Abbreviations

AO ANTIOXIDANT

ASTM AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TESTING AND MATERIALS

ATH ALUMINUM TRIHYDRATE

BLOCK BLOCK COPOLYMER Rubber

Brl, Br2.. BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANT

BUTYL BUTYL RUBBER

CA COUPLING AGENT

CB CARBON BLACK

Dx DISSIPATION FACTOR

EAA POLY (ETHYLENE ACRYLIC ACID) COPOLYMER

EMA POLY (ETHYLENE METHACRYLIC ACID) COPOLYMER

EPDM ETHYLENE PROPYLENE DIENE MONOMER

EPR ETHYLENE PROPYLENE RUBBER

EVA POLY (ETHYLENE VINYL ACETATE) COPOLYMER

E(VA/AA) POLY (ETHYLENE VINYL ACETATE/ACRYLIC ACID)

COPOLYMER

EVOH POLY (ETHYLENE VINYL ALCOHOL) COPOLYMER

HDPE HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE

LLDPE LINEAR LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE

Mbl, Mb2.. MOLYBDENUM-CONTAINING FLAME RETARDANT

Mgl, Mg2.. MAGNESIUM-CONTAINING FLAME RETARDANT

P-Nl, P-N2 PHOSPHOROUS-NITROGEN FLAME RETARDANT

PA PROCESSING AID

PB POLYBUTYLENE

PBD POLYBUTADIENE

PE POLYETHYLENE

PP POLYPROPYLENE

PVC POLY (VINYL CHLORIDE)

Sbl, Sb2.. ANTIMONY COMPOUND (FLAME RETARDANT)

VINYL POLY (VINYL CHLORIDE)

Examples Comparative Examples 1-C7 Two-component blends were prepared from an olefinic component and a thermoplastic component, the former being the major component and the latter being the minor component (olefin/thermoplastic >. 1) , and were mixed

together in a Brabender™ rheometer using a small mixing head with high shear paddles at 105°C for 5 minutes until a uniform dispersion of the polymers in the thermoplastic blend was achieved. Olefinic components and rubberic components are listed below. These blends are unfilled.

Blends were pressed between heated platens to form films 125 μm to 500 μm thick. Tensile properties of the films varied considerably in shape of the curve as well as tensile strength and elongation, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

These figures show that EVA/EPDM, EVA block copolymer blends and ionomer blends having the required flame retardant system are unique in their elongation, tensile strength and minimal yield/necking tendencies. These blends have not undergone any type of post¬ processing, therefore the films are nonoriented, and noncross1inked.

Table 1

Examples C8-C19 The mixing procedure described in Example 1 was used to prepare olefin/rubber blends with flame retardant fillers as listed below. Filled blends were pressed into

films between heated platens, and flame retardance was measured as described in the test methods, above.

Measured burn time for these samples is listed in Table 2.

TABLE 2

The unfilled polymer blend, example C8, exhibits uncontrolled burning until the sample is consumed.

Different flame retardant fillers have varied effects on the flame retardance of the filled blends.

As can be seen, it is not merely the concentration of flame retardant present; to achieve flame retardance while maintaining good mechanical film properties, i.e., elongation > 500%, it is necessary to use a flame retardant system and filler level within the scope of the invention.

Comparative Examples C20-C22 The following blends, listed in Table 3, were prepared by Banbury™ mixing followed by two roll milling and then calendering.

TABLE 3

Film forming conditions and post-processing conditions were chosen to modify the stress-strain curve to yield properties similar to that of plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) film. The tensile curves for C20, C21, C22 and plasticized PVC are displayed in Figure 3. The curves for blends without fillers are very similar to the vinyl curve while this filled blend, outside the scope of the invention, exhibits very poor elongation.

Examples 23-28 Filled blends listed in Table 4 were prepared by the following two methods: Banbury mixing followed by two roll milling then calendaring; and, twin screw extrusion through a film die. Tensile results were performed on each film and are shown in Figure 4. Examples containing coupling agent exhibit improved tensile-elongation properties.

Tensile tests of these extruded films were then performed at -18°C. Tensile tests at room temperature and at -18°C were also performed on plasticized PVC film. Figure 5 compares results for these samples. The PVC film becomes very stiff, exhibits a yield point and is

brittle at the low temperature. The filled blend retains elongation and mechanical properties more closely resembling the ambient properties of plasticized PVC.

TABLE 4

Examples 29-32 Filled blends were prepared by twin screw extrusion through a film die. Flame retardance for the films was tested by the ASTM D1000 test with the following results shown in Table 5. As can be seen, the coupling agent causes flame retardance to improve for the filled blends.

TABLE 5

EXAM. BLEND COMPOSITION FILLER COUPLING BURN # (parts by weight) CONCENTRATION AGENT TIME

29 EVA2/EPDM2/ATH2/Brl/Sb2/PA/CA/CB/AO 27% N 11s (80/20/20/11/5/1/0/0/.15)

30 EVA2/EPDM2/ATH2/Brl/Sb2/PA/CA/CB/AO 27% Y 2s (80/20/20/11/5/1/.3/0/.15)

31 EVA2/EPDM2/ATH2/Brl/Sb2/PA/CA/CB/AO 27% Y Is (80/20/20/11/5/1/.3/0/.15)

32 ³ B/EPDM3/EPR/EVA3/CB/LLDPE/ATH2/Br2/Sb2/AO 28% N 16s (22/36/10/14/2/16/20/11/5/.15)

Exa ple 33 Tensile performance at ambient temperature and at 100°C of the blend listed below is displayed in Figures 6 and 7 as a function of amount of irradiation. Tensile properties of plasticized vinyl film at room temperature and at 100°C are also shown for comparison.

EVA2 EPDM2 ATH2 Brl Sb2 CA AO

80 20 20 11 6 0.3 0.15 Tensile values for all films drop considerably as the temperature is raised. The tensile values for blends of this invention do not drop as greatly as tensile values for plasticized vinyl film. High temperature elongation of the present invention at 9 and 12 Mrads is comparable to the ambient temperature elongation of vinyl, while elongation of vinyl film at 100°C is quite high.

Figure 7 shows the ratio of the tensiles at 100°C to the tensiles at room temperature, indicating the amount of tensile strength retained at high temperature. The sample irradiated at 15 Mrads is clearly superior to the other samples.

Examples 34-35 Blends listed below were extruded into films and post-processed. Strips of these films and strips of plasticized vinyl film, having approximately the same thickness, were cut and exposed to various solvents of the most commonly encountered types (ethyl acetate, toluene, acetone) . The change in weight, length and width were used as measures of swelling of the film. A large change in length indicates high swelling and good compatibility of the solvent and the film, which is undesirable. No change in length indicates good solvent resistance of the film and better performance under harsh conditions. Solvent resistance results are listed in Table 6.

Table 6

Component Example 34 Example 35

EVA2 80 -

EPDM1 20 -

E(VA/AA)1 - 100

ATH2 20 20

Brl 11 11

Sbl 5 5

CA 0.3 0.3

AO 0.15 0.15

PA 1 1

TABLE 7

% CHANGE Vinyl Example Example 33 34

TOLUENE: WEIGHT -28.5 -12 -13.5 LENGTH -16 -1 -31 WIDTH -12 -8 -1

ETHYL ACETATE: WEIGHT -14 0 -4 LENGTH -18 -1 -3 WIDTH -6 0 -2

ACETONE: WEIGHT -33 0 -2 LENGTH -25 0 -2 WIDTH -9 0 0

Examples C35 and C36 Two commercial non-vinyl electrical tapes are known: Polyken™ and Polynor™. Ambient stress-strain curves and flame retardance times of these two products, a filled blend of this invention, Example 30, with post¬ processing, and plasticized PVC are shown in Figure 8 and Table 7, respectively.

Table 7 TAPE BURN TIME

3M VINYL 1 s

EX. C35 (POLYKEN (EVA BASED)) until consumed

EX. C36 (POLYNOR (PE BASED)) until consumed EX. 30 I s

The deficiencies of these low halogen products outside the scope of the invention are lack of flame retardance and poor tensile strength, low elongation and necking characteristics. Performance of the filled system of this invention shows good tensile and flame retarding performance.

Examples C37-39

The abrasion resistance of the following films was evaluated using a Taber Abraser model 503 and a consistent test methodology. The average weight loss from abrasion is listed in Table 8. A higher weight loss indicates poorer abrasion resistance.

TABLE 8

EXAM. BLEND COMPOSITION (parts by FILLER WEIGHT

# weight) CONCEN¬ LOSS TRATION (g)

C37 PLASTICIZED VINYL 9% .135

38 EVA2/EPDM2/ATH2/Brl/Sb2/PA/CA/AO 27% .092 (80/20/20/11/5/1/.3/.15)

39 E(VA/AA) /ATH2/Brl/Sbl/PA/CA/AO 27% .051 (100/20/11/5/1/0/.15)

The weight loss for each filled blend is lower than that for plasticized PVC.

Example 40 The composition described in Example 30 was melt processed in a twin screw extruder through a film die.

Post-processing conditions of orientation and crosslinking of this film varied. Strips of this composition with different post-processing conditions were cut and the initial length was measured. Strips were placed in the oven at 140°F for one week. The average percent change in length (shrinkage) is recorded in Table 9.

TABLE 9

Example POST-PROCESSING % SHRINKAGE

EX 40 unoriented, uncrosslinked 8

EX 40 oriented, uncrosslinked 20 - 27

EX 40 unoriented, crosslinked 1.2

EX 40 oriented, crosslinked 1.2 - 2.5

PVC unoriented, uncrosslinked 1.9

Crosslinking of the filled blends of this invention provides a film with thermal dimensional stability, comparable to plasticized PVC film.

Example 41 Hysteresis tests were performed on plasticized vinyl film and on a filled blend film of the present invention. The amount of unrecovered strain/initial strain is plotted versus initial strain for these two materials in Figure 9. While the amount of unrecovered strain increases more rapidly for the filled film of this invention than for the PVC film, the unrecovered strain is less for the filled blend film up to 75% initial strain. Strain recovery is an important feature for applying electrical tapes to maintain a tight wrap and aid in conformability. Typical application strains range from 50 to 100%. In this range, the present invention is comparable to, or superior to plasticized PVC film.

Examples 42-44

The electrical insulation characteristics of a material are extremely important in electrical wire and cable coatings, coverings and tapes. Typically, neat polymers are good electrical insulators, but this property can be degraded by the addition of filler materials such as flame retardants. The dielectric breakdown strength, a measure of the electrical insulation properties, was evaluated for the films described in Table 10 and for premium vinyl electrical tape. Dielectric breakdown strength results are also listed in Table 10.

TABLE 10

EXAM. BLEND COMPOSITION FILLER DIELECTRIC # (parts by weight) CONCEN STRENGTH, TRATION V/mil

WET DRY

42 EVA2/EPDM2/ATH2/Brl/Sb2/CA/AO 32% 1940 1900 (80/20/20/20/6/.3/.15)

43 EVA2/EPDM2/Mg2/Brl/Sb2/CA/AO 27% 1780 1780 (80/20/20/11/5/.3/.15)

44 PLASTICIZED VINYL 9% 1600 1600

Dielectric breakdown strength of the blends of the present invention meets or exceeds the dielectric strength of premium vinyl electrical tape.

Example 45 A layer having the composition described below, was extruded and post-processed. Pieces of the layer were cut and hot pressed (200°F) against aluminum panels until the layer and aluminum adhered to each other. The aluminum panels have a ridge running lengthwise to emulate a typical wire radius. Some panels were prepared with the layer only on one side while other panels were prepared with the layer covering both sides and sealed on

the edges. Those with one side covered were used for dielectric breakdown strength testing on the flat regions and on the ridges of the panel, while those with both sides covered were examined by a dissipation factor test as a function of temperature. These two tests provide fundamental electrical property information to screen potential materials for electrical wire insulation, especially in transformer applications.

COMPOSITION

EVA1 EPDM1 ATH2 Brl Sb2 CA CB AO

80 20 20 11 6 0.3 1 0.15 Averaged test results for dielectric strength are 1650 V/mil for the flat regions and 1640 V/mil for the ridges. Dielectric strength values greater than 1000 V/mil provide sufficient insulation for wire coverings.

The Dissipation factor, D _x , for this example was figured and plotted in Figure 11. The onset of increase in the dissipation factor marks the temperature limit for proper insulative performance. An onset of 150°C is typical in transformer applications. The onset of this material occurs at 180°C to 190°C, demonstrating the improved high temperature performance.