A flexible and economical process has been commercialised to crosslink wires and cables, which utilizes reactive silane-groups, which will crosslink in a humid environment.
The moisture crosslinkable polyolefins are linked through a
C-Si-O-Si-C moiety, rather than a C-C bond. The crosslinking usually takes place within a few days at ambient temperature or at elevated temperatures and high humidity to increase the speed of crosslinking.
Moisture crosslinking offers a greater processing latitude, as the fabrication does not have to take place below the peroxide decomposition temperature as required in a peroxide crosslinking process.
Additionally, in the moisture crosslinkable process, the wire and cable can be cooled quickly during the extrusion process, instead of beginning an increasing thermal cycle to decompose the peroxide.