The development of a cable insulation

The rapid pace of our changing society results in continued demands for new or improved insulations. To meet these demands, insulation formulations must be revised, and occasionally entirely new insulations are needed to fit a particular application. Development of such new or revised insulations requires a high degree of skill and creativity. The obvious goal is a balance of the many properties required to satisfy the end use of the cable, but the methods or means employed to achieve this goal are far from obvious, even to the skilled insulation chemist. The selection of one or more additives may be critical in achieving the desired property; therefore, both the additives and their quantities must be chosen judiciously. Frequently new compounding techniques must be devised to insure the best blending of the ingredients. To illustrate some principles of creative insulation development, a specific example has been selected.