A wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships and a preparation method thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of wide temperature range optical cable for ship and its preparation method, belong to communication optical cable technical field;The present application has prepared a kind of outer sheath material by compounding polyethylene and modified polyphenyl ether, significantly improve the use temperature range of optical cable sheath material, the present application has also prepared a kind of compatible flame retardant, the double bond of the flame retardant can be grafted in polyethylene molecular chain under the action of initiator, after grafting modification, the biphenyl structure in the flame-retardant compatible agent can produce pi-pi conjugation with the biphenyl structure in modified polyphenyl ether, enhance the intermolecular force of polyethylene and modified polyphenyl ether, significantly improve the interfacial adhesion of polyethylene and modified polyphenyl ether, and reduce the phase separation problem caused by the polarity difference between flame retardant and polyethylene, improve the dispersion effect of flame retardant in polymer, not only improve the flame retardancy of material, inhibit the migration of flame retardant, also can effectively improve the mechanical property of sheath material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of optical fiber communication technology, specifically, it relates to a wide temperature range optical fiber cable for ships and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] When ships are carrying out ocean voyages, the geographical coverage of the operating sea areas is extremely wide, and the environmental temperature range of different sea areas is extremely large. When ships sail to the waters near Antarctica or the Arctic Ocean, the winter environmental temperature is generally below -40°C, while when ships sail through the equator and low-latitude tropical waters, the summer environmental temperature may exceed 45°C. Due to continuous solar radiation, the temperature inside the engine room can rise to 85°C. This extreme temperature environment poses a double challenge to the temperature stability of shipborne optical cable materials. The optical cable materials may become brittle and crack at extreme low temperatures, and may soften due to the temperature rise at extreme high temperatures, resulting in a significant decrease in compressive strength, making them unable to withstand the turbulence and impact encountered by ships at sea.

[0003] Polyethylene is a commonly used optical cable material in existing technologies, possessing good low-temperature resistance. However, polyethylene has poor heat resistance, and prolonged exposure to high temperatures on ships can lead to performance degradation of the optical cable materials. When the operating temperature of the optical cable remains near the high-temperature threshold for an extended period, oxygen permeation can trigger free radical chain reactions, causing the molecular chains within the optical cable material to break, resulting in a significant decrease in both heat and cold resistance. To address these technical shortcomings, this invention provides a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships and its preparation method. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a wide temperature range optical cable for ships and its preparation method, in order to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] The objective of this invention can be achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0006] A wide temperature range optical cable for ships includes a cable core, a mica tape, an armor layer, and an outer sheath. The cable core contains at least one optical fiber, and the outer side is provided with a mica tape fireproof layer, an armor layer, and an outer sheath in sequence.

[0007] The outer sheath comprises the following parts by weight of raw materials: 35-45 parts modified polyphenylene oxide (MPPO), 20-30 parts low-density polyethylene (LDPE), 30-40 parts high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and 30-36 parts compatible flame retardant.

[0008] Furthermore, the modified polyphenylene ether is a blend of polyphenylene ether and polystyrene, and the mass fraction of polyphenylene ether is 40-60%.

[0009] Furthermore, the weight-average molecular weight of the low-density polyethylene is 150,000 to 220,000 g / mol.

[0010] Furthermore, the weight-average molecular weight of the high-density polyethylene is 200,000 to 300,000 g / mol.

[0011] Furthermore, the compatible flame retardant is prepared by the following steps:

[0012] Under nitrogen protection, dopamine, benzaldehyde derivatives, and isopropanol were mixed in a three-necked flask, fitted with a condenser and thermometer, and magnetically stirred. The mixture was reacted at 50–60 °C for 4–6 h. Then, 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide was added to the three-necked flask, and the system temperature was raised to 75–85 °C. The mixture was then reacted at 75–85 °C for 10–12 h. After the reaction was completed, the precipitate was filtered out, washed with anhydrous ethanol, and dried to obtain the flame retardant compatibilizer.

[0013] Furthermore, the benzaldehyde derivative is one of 2-vinylbenzaldehyde, 3-vinylbenzaldehyde, and 4-vinylbenzaldehyde.

[0014] Furthermore, the mass ratio of dopamine, benzaldehyde derivative, isopropanol, and 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide used is 7.7–15.5: 6.8–13.4: 50–120: 10–22.

[0015] The present invention also discloses a method for preparing the wide temperature range optical cable for ships.

[0016] A method for manufacturing a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships includes the following steps:

[0017] S1. Low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, compatible flame retardant and initiator are added to a twin-screw extruder and melt-extruded and granulated under nitrogen protection to obtain flame-retardant polyethylene for later use.

[0018] S2. Strand the optical fibers into a bundle and use a wrapping machine to spirally wrap the mica tape around the outside of the optical fiber bundle. Then, wrap the mica tape with an aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy wire braided armor layer for later use.

[0019] S3. Flame-retardant polyethylene and modified polyphenylene ether are added to a twin-screw extruder. Under nitrogen protection, the extrusion is carried out on the outer armor layer and then cooled and shaped to form an outer sheath, thus obtaining a wide temperature range optical cable for ships.

[0020] Furthermore, the initiator is one of dicumyl peroxide and tert-butyl peroxide.

[0021] Furthermore, the mass ratio of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, compatible flame retardant, and initiator used in S1 is 20–30: 30–40: 30–36: 0.3–0.72.

[0022] Furthermore, the temperature conditions for melt extrusion of flame-retardant polyethylene in S1 are 160–180°C.

[0023] Furthermore, the temperature conditions for the melt extrusion of the outer sheath in S3 are 240–260°C.

[0024] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0025] 1) This invention provides excellent protection for optical cables by sequentially wrapping the cable core with mica tape and an aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy armor layer. The mica tape provides excellent high-temperature resistance and is a non-flammable insulation layer. The aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy wire braid provides mechanical protection (resistance to compression, tension, and impact) and good flexibility, while also having water-blocking, shielding, and certain fire-resistant properties. In addition, this invention obtains a wide-temperature-range sheath material by compounding polyethylene material with excellent low-temperature resistance and polyphenylene ether material with excellent high-temperature resistance, which significantly improves the high-temperature resistance of conventional polyethylene cable sheath materials.

[0026] 2) This invention uses dopamine, benzaldehyde derivatives, and DOPO (9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide) as raw materials. First, a Schiff base reaction dehydration condensation is performed between the amino group of dopamine and the aldehyde group of the benzaldehyde derivative to obtain an intermediate with a Schiff base structure. Then, DOPO is added, and a nucleophilic addition reaction is performed between the Schiff base structure of the intermediate and the phosphorus-hydrogen bond of DOPO to prepare a flame-retardant compatibilizer. The flame-retardant compatibilizer of this invention contains graftable double bonds, which can be grafted onto the polyethylene molecular chain under the action of an initiator. After grafting modification, the flame retardant... The biphenyl structure in the flame retardant compatibilizer can generate π-π conjugated reinforcing intermolecular forces between polyethylene and modified polyphenylene ether with the biphenyl structure in the modified polyphenylene ether, significantly improving the interfacial bonding force between polyethylene and modified polyphenylene ether. In addition, the flame retardant compatibilizer of the present invention also has multiple phenolic hydroxyl groups, which have good antioxidant effects. They can not only effectively improve the mechanical strength reduction and crosslinking embrittlement problems caused by molecular chain breakage due to thermal oxidation during high-temperature melt extrusion of polyethylene and polyphenylene ether, but also inhibit the aging and degeneration of materials caused by thermal oxidation under high-temperature environment, and improve the heat resistance of materials.

[0027] 3) This invention modifies the flame retardant DOPO. The modified flame retardant can be grafted into the polyethylene molecular chain in the form of chemical bonds, which significantly reduces the phase separation problem caused by the polarity difference between the flame retardant and polyethylene, improves the dispersion effect of the flame retardant in the polymer, not only improves the flame retardancy of the material and inhibits the migration of the flame retardant, but also effectively improves the mechanical properties of the sheath material. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the wide temperature range optical cable for ships according to the present invention.

[0029] The cable core is shown in the diagram as 1, mica tape as 2, armor layer as 3, and outer sheath as 4. Detailed Implementation

[0030] It should be understood that the expression “one or more of…” individually includes each of the objects described after the expression, as well as various different combinations of two or more of the described objects, unless otherwise understood from the context and usage. The expression “and / or” combined with three or more described objects should be understood to have the same meaning, unless otherwise understood from the context.

[0031] The terms “including,” “having,” or “containing,” including the use of their grammatical synonyms, should generally be understood as open-ended and non-restrictive, for example, not excluding other unstated elements or steps, unless otherwise specifically stated or understood from the context.

[0032] It should be understood that the order of the steps or the order in which certain actions are performed is not important as long as the invention remains operational. Furthermore, two or more steps or actions can be performed simultaneously.

[0033] The use of any and all instances or exemplary language such as “e.g.” or “including” in this document is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention unless the claims are made. No language in this specification should be construed as indicating that any unclaimed element is essential to the practice of the invention.

[0034] Example 1

[0035] A type of wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a cable core 1, a mica tape 2, an armor layer 3, and an outer sheath 4. The cable core contains at least one optical fiber, and the outer side is provided with a mica tape fireproof layer, an armor layer, and an outer sheath in sequence.

[0036] The outer sheath comprises the following parts by weight of raw materials: 35 parts modified polyphenylene oxide (MPPO), 20 parts low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with a weight average molecular weight of 150,000 g / mol, 40 parts high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 g / mol, and 36 parts compatible flame retardant.

[0037] The modified polyphenylene ether is a blend of polyphenylene ether and polystyrene, with a polyphenylene ether mass fraction of 60%, and the compatible flame retardant is prepared by the following steps:

[0038] Under nitrogen protection, 7.7 g of dopamine, 6.8 g of 2-vinylbenzaldehyde, and 50 g of isopropanol were mixed in a three-necked flask, fitted with a condenser and a thermometer, and magnetically stirred. The mixture was reacted at 50 °C for 6 h. Then, 10 g of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide was added to the three-necked flask, and the temperature of the system was raised to 75 °C. The mixture was then reacted at 75 °C for 12 h. After the reaction was completed, the precipitate was filtered out, washed with anhydrous ethanol, and dried to obtain the flame retardant compatibilizer.

[0039] A method for manufacturing a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships includes the following steps:

[0040] S1. Add 20 parts of low-density polyethylene, 40 parts of high-density polyethylene, 36 parts of compatible flame retardant, and 0.3 parts of tert-butyl peroxide to a twin-screw extruder and melt-extrude and granulate under nitrogen protection at a temperature of 160°C to obtain flame-retardant polyethylene for later use.

[0041] S2. Strand the optical fibers into a bundle and use a wrapping machine to spirally wrap the mica tape around the outside of the optical fiber bundle. Then, wrap the mica tape with an aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy wire braided armor layer for later use.

[0042] S3. Flame-retardant polyethylene and 35 parts of modified polyphenylene ether are added to a twin-screw extruder. Under nitrogen protection and at a temperature of 240°C, the outer sheath is formed by extrusion and cooling. This yields a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships.

[0043] Example 2

[0044] A type of wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a cable core 1, a mica tape 2, an armor layer 3, and an outer sheath 4. The cable core contains at least one optical fiber, and the outer side is provided with a mica tape fireproof layer, an armor layer, and an outer sheath in sequence.

[0045] The outer sheath comprises the following parts by weight of raw materials: 40 parts modified polyphenylene oxide (MPPO), 25 parts low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with a weight average molecular weight of 185,000 g / mol, 35 parts high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a weight average molecular weight of 250,000 g / mol, and 33 parts compatible flame retardant.

[0046] The modified polyphenylene ether is a blend of polyphenylene ether and polystyrene, with the polyphenylene ether having a mass fraction of 50%, and the compatible flame retardant is prepared by the following steps:

[0047] Under nitrogen protection, 11.6 g of dopamine, 10.1 g of 3-vinylbenzaldehyde, and 85 g of isopropanol were mixed in a three-necked flask, fitted with a condenser and a thermometer, and magnetically stirred. The mixture was reacted at 55 °C for 5 h. Then, 15 g of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide was added to the three-necked flask, and the temperature of the system was raised to 80 °C. The mixture was then reacted at 80 °C for 11 h. After the reaction was completed, the precipitate was filtered out, washed with anhydrous ethanol, and dried to obtain the flame retardant compatibilizer.

[0048] A method for manufacturing a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships includes the following steps:

[0049] S1. Add 25 parts of low-density polyethylene, 35 parts of high-density polyethylene, 33 parts of compatible flame retardant, and 0.51 parts of tert-butyl peroxide to a twin-screw extruder and melt-extrude and granulate under nitrogen protection at a temperature of 170°C to obtain flame-retardant polyethylene for later use.

[0050] S2. Strand the optical fibers into a bundle and use a wrapping machine to spirally wrap the mica tape around the outside of the optical fiber bundle. Then, wrap the mica tape with an aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy wire braided armor layer for later use.

[0051] S3. Flame-retardant polyethylene and 40 parts of modified polyphenylene ether are added to a twin-screw extruder. Under nitrogen protection and at a temperature of 250°C, the outer sheath is formed by extrusion and cooling. This yields a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships.

[0052] Example 3

[0053] A type of wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a cable core 1, a mica tape 2, an armor layer 3, and an outer sheath 4. The cable core contains at least one optical fiber, and the outer side is provided with a mica tape fireproof layer, an armor layer, and an outer sheath in sequence.

[0054] The outer sheath comprises the following parts by weight of raw materials: 45 parts modified polyphenylene oxide (MPPO), 30 parts low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with a weight average molecular weight of 220,000 g / mol, 30 parts high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a weight average molecular weight of 300,000 g / mol, and 30 parts compatible flame retardant.

[0055] The modified polyphenylene ether is a blend of polyphenylene ether and polystyrene, with a polyphenylene ether mass fraction of 40%, and the compatible flame retardant is prepared by the following steps:

[0056] Under nitrogen protection, 15.5 g of dopamine, 13.4 g of 2-vinylbenzaldehyde, and 120 g of isopropanol were mixed in a three-necked flask, fitted with a condenser and a thermometer, and magnetically stirred. The mixture was reacted at 60 °C for 4 h. Then, 20 g of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide was added to the three-necked flask, and the temperature of the system was raised to 85 °C. The mixture was then reacted at 85 °C for 10 h. After the reaction was completed, the precipitate was filtered out, washed with anhydrous ethanol, and dried to obtain the flame retardant compatibilizer.

[0057] A method for manufacturing a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships includes the following steps:

[0058] S1. Add 30 parts of low-density polyethylene, 30 parts of high-density polyethylene, 30 parts of compatible flame retardant, and 0.3 parts of dicumyl peroxide to a twin-screw extruder and melt-extrude and granulate under nitrogen protection at a temperature of 180°C to obtain flame-retardant polyethylene for later use.

[0059] S2. Strand the optical fibers into a bundle and use a wrapping machine to spirally wrap the mica tape around the outside of the optical fiber bundle. Then, wrap the mica tape with an aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy wire braided armor layer for later use.

[0060] S3. Flame-retardant polyethylene and 45 parts of modified polyphenylene ether are added to a twin-screw extruder. Under nitrogen protection and at a temperature of 260°C, the outer sheath is formed by extrusion and cooling. This yields a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships.

[0061] Comparative Example 1

[0062] The compatible flame retardant in Example 3 was replaced with an equal amount of flame retardant DOPO, and the remaining raw materials and preparation steps were the same as in Example 3.

[0063] Experimental Example

[0064] The outer sheath materials in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Example 1 were subjected to performance tests. The limiting oxygen index was tested according to national standard GB / T2406.2-2009. The tensile strength and impact strength after a 168-hour heat aging test at room temperature, -50℃, and 85℃ with 2.1 MPa oxygen pressure were tested according to national standard GB / T 2951.11-2008. The test results are shown in Table 1.

[0065] Table 1

[0066]

[0067] As can be seen from Table 1, the outer sheath materials in Examples 1 to 3 have good mechanical properties and flame retardant properties. They will not yellow or develop defects due to oxidation after processing. They also have good heat resistance and cold resistance, making them suitable for various severe temperature changes encountered by ships during navigation.

[0068] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships, characterized in that, It includes a cable core, a mica tape, an armor layer, and an outer sheath. The cable core contains at least one optical fiber, and the outer side is provided with a mica tape fireproof layer, an armor layer, and an outer sheath in sequence. The outer sheath comprises the following parts by weight of raw materials: 35-45 parts modified polyphenylene oxide (MPPO), 20-30 parts low-density polyethylene (LDPE), 30-40 parts high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and 30-36 parts compatible flame retardant, wherein the compatible flame retardant is prepared by the following steps: Under nitrogen protection, dopamine and benzaldehyde derivatives were dissolved in isopropanol and reacted at 50-60℃ for 4-6 hours. Then, 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide was added to the system and reacted at 75-85℃ for 10-12 hours to obtain a flame retardant compatibilizer. The benzaldehyde derivative is one of 2-vinylbenzaldehyde, 3-vinylbenzaldehyde, and 4-vinylbenzaldehyde.

2. The wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, The modified polyphenylene ether is a blend of polyphenylene ether and polystyrene, and the mass fraction of polyphenylene ether is 40-60%.

3. The wide temperature range optical cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, The weight-average molecular weight of the low-density polyethylene is 150,000 to 220,000 g / mol.

4. The wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, The weight-average molecular weight of the high-density polyethylene is 200,000 to 300,000 g / mol.

5. A wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mass ratio of dopamine, benzaldehyde derivative, and 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide is 7.7–15.5: 6.8–13.4: 10–22.

6. A method for preparing a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Flame-retardant polyethylene is obtained by melt extrusion of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, compatible flame retardant, and initiator under nitrogen protection. After optical fibers are stranded into bundles, mica tape is wrapped around the outside of the fiber bundles to form an armor layer. Then, flame-retardant polyethylene and modified polyphenylene ether are extruded outside the armor layer under nitrogen protection and cooled to form an outer sheath, thus obtaining a wide temperature range optical cable for ships.

7. The method for preparing a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships according to claim 6, characterized in that, The initiator is one of isopropyl peroxide and tert-butyl peroxide.

8. A method for preparing a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships according to claim 6, characterized in that, The mass ratio of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, compatible flame retardant, and initiator is 20–30: 30–40: 30–36: 0.3–0.

72.

9. A method for preparing a wide-temperature-range optical cable for ships according to claim 6, characterized in that, The melt extrusion temperature for flame-retardant polyethylene is 160–180℃, and the melt extrusion temperature for the outer sheath is 240–260℃.

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