Written on 15.03.2011 - Technology
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Vinyl elastomer compounds for wind turbine cables

Two new vinyl jacketing compounds from Teknor Apex Company withstand the harsh cold, exposure to lubricants, and other challenging conditions encountered by control and power cables within the nacelles high atop wind turbine towers, the company announced.

Teknor Apex will introduce the products at Interwire 2011 (Booth 312). According to the company, it has taken two different approaches to meeting the rigorous requirements of wind turbine applications:

Flexalloy 9609-80 is an 80 Shore A PVC-based elastomer that provides long-term UV resistance. It exhibits a brittle point of -60 ºC.
Apex N-56001 is a 76 Shore A blend of PVC and nitrile rubber that provides long-term low-temperature flexibility and oil resistance. It exhibits a brittle point of -54 ºC.

Wind turbine nacelle

Besides exceeding application standards for impact resistance at temperatures down to -40 ºC, both compounds pass required tests for UV resistance, 60-day oil ageing at 75 ºC, and flammability performance as specified in UL 1685-F4. The two compounds are rated at 105 ºC for maximum continuous operating temperature.

"Teknor Apex has developed Flexalloy 9609-80 and Apex N-56001 to provide cable manufacturers with different options for meeting application requirements," said industry manager Mike Patel. "Both products are high-performance alternatives to the standard flexible vinyl compounds used in cable jacketing and are particularly valuable for their cold-impact and oil-resistance properties."