A flame resistant, high temperature, cross-linked wire insulation system

For many years the wire industry has worked to upgrade the high temperature performance of low-cost insulating materials. One technique that has been developed is cross-linking by irradiation. Introduced 21 years ago, the irradiation process is a simple one. After the thermoplastic compound is extruded onto wire, it is exposed to high energy electrons from an electron accelerator. The energy from the fast moving electrons is intense enough to change the chemical structure of many materials. In a properly formulated polymer system this change can cause extensive cross-linking and even change a thermoplastic to an insoluble, infusible thermosetting plastic.