What polymers and additives are in a wire or cable compound?
Name the insulation or jacket layer first
A cable can contain chemically different insulation and jacket layers, so analyzing an undifferentiated cable section may combine several polymer and additive systems. We ask which layer is the target and whether the submitted material is compound pellets or a new finished cable section. The conductor can contribute metal unrelated to the target polymer, so mark the layer and provide photographs that show the construction.
PVC, XLPE, LSZH and rubber systems
PVC jacket compounds commonly combine PVC resin, plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, lubricants and colorants, with the flexibility package distinct from the resin identity. Crosslinked polyethylene, or XLPE, uses a polyethylene-based network, while its retained additives can differ from those in an uncrosslinked pellet. Low-smoke zero-halogen, or LSZH, compounds commonly use polyolefin matrices with mineral flame-retardant fillers such as aluminium hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide. Rubber cable compounds can contain elastomers, curing ingredients, fillers, antioxidants and processing aids whose balances depend on the intended cable application.
A polymer-family finding distinguishes broad material systems but does not establish a supplier grade or the original crosslinking recipe. Peroxide-based and silane-related crosslinking systems can leave different retained evidence, although reaction can consume the starting crosslinking ingredients. A cured cable layer is therefore a record of retained material, not an unchanged list of the ingredients originally added to the mixer.
Filler proportions, elements and organic additives
We can address the matrix family, supported inorganic-filler system and semi-quantitative filler contribution on the submitted layer basis. ICP-MS can provide aluminium, magnesium and other element evidence, but an element alone does not establish the filler's full chemical form. GC-MS and LC-MS/MS can support accessible plasticizer and antioxidant findings under suitable conditions, with specific compound names dependent on reference evidence. Color masterbatch and other additions can contribute separate polymer, pigment or mineral signals, so the main matrix is not necessarily the only polymer present.
Halogen-containing ingredient evidence can support a qualitative flame-retardant-system question, but chlorine in a PVC matrix is not proof of a separate chlorinated flame-retardant additive. The LSZH product description is not verified by this composition study, which does not provide electrical performance, fire ratings, smoke results or aging lifetime. Detailed PVC, flame-retardant and rubber questions are covered in our PVC guide, flame-retardant guide and rubber guide.
Declare new pellets or new cable sections
New cable-compound pellets and unused finished cable sections can be reviewed as solid samples after declaration, SDS and component review. Used cable, dismantled cable waste and scrap are not received from overseas; propose unused retained material instead. Compounds containing fluorinated additives or substances outside the existing chemical inventory are reviewed case by case after declaration.
How to start
We review overseas industrial samples before acceptance. Use our industrial analysis page and sample-shipping guide to prepare your declaration. Our reports are research-grade analytical reports from a laboratory that is not accredited. They cannot be used for product registration or legal proceedings.
FAQ
Does aluminium prove an LSZH cable formulation?
Aluminium is a filler-related clue, but it does not alone identify aluminium hydroxide or verify low-smoke and halogen-free performance claims.
Can chlorine in PVC be assigned to an added flame retardant?
PVC itself contains chlorine, so chlorine evidence must be interpreted against the matrix before it is attributed to a separate flame-retardant ingredient.
Can XLPE analysis give the original crosslinking dose?
Crosslinking can consume starting ingredients, so a retained XLPE composition does not uniquely recover the original crosslinking dose or processing schedule.
Can we send cable removed from equipment?
Cable removed from service is used material and is not received from overseas; new compound pellets or an unused cable section can be proposed for declaration review.