Cables having foamed polymeric jackets that are suitable for air-blown may include at least one transmission media, such as one or more optical fibers or one or more twisted pairs. A jacket may be formed around the at least one transmission media. The jacket may be formed from or include an outer layer formed from foamed polymeric material. Additionally, an outer surface of the jacket may include a random distribution of surface variations. The surface variations may include a plurality of indentions and/or a plurality of protrusions.

The present invention relates to a cable jacket composition comprising an expandable and crosslinkable jacket blend of: a polymer composition comprising a polyolefin material, which polyolefin material bears silane moieties, and a foaming system, wherein the provided jacket blend will comprise at least 0.1% by weight of a foaming agent, with respect to the total weight of the polyolefin material; cable jacket; cable, e.g. a power cable or a communication cable; and uses thereof.

A foamed thermoplastic material includes a thermoplastic material exhibiting, in its unfoamed state, a particular flammability index, flame growth rate, and specific extinction area. The foamed thermoplastic material further includes a plurality of cells having a number average mean diameter of 5 to 150 micrometers present in an amount effective to provide the foamed thermoplastic material with a density that is 10 to 90 percent of the density of the unfoamed thermoplastic material. The foamed thermoplastic material exhibits a desirable tensile elongation and dielectric constant. A process for forming the foamed thermoplastic material, articles including the foamed thermoplastic material, and an article-forming process are also described.

Described herein are solid and foamable fluoropolymer alloy compositions and foamed articles using said foamable fluoropolymer alloy compositions. The foamable fluoropolymer alloy compositions can comprise a fluoropolymer, and a plastic polymer mixed with said fluoropolymer, wherein said plastic polymer is miscible with said fluoropolymer. The fluoropolymer alloy composition may further comprise a foaming agent. By way of example, the foaming agent can be talc or a talc derivative, or a mixture of talc (or talc derivative) with a citrate compound, such as a citrate salt. One or more additives are added to render the compositions flame retardant and/or smoke suppressant.

A composition which can provide foamed moldings and foamed electric wires having a small average cell size and a high foam content and causing fewer sparks. The composition includes a fluororesin (A) and a compound (B) which is a sulfonic acid or a salt thereof. The sulfonic acid is represented by the following formula (1): F(CF.sub.2).sub.nSO.sub.3H (1) wherein n is 4 or 5, or the following formula (2): F(CF.sub.2).sub.nCH.sub.2CH.sub.2SO.sub.3H (2) wherein n is 4 or 5. Also disclosed is a foamed molding formed from the composition and a method for producing a foamed molding.

Thermoplastic polymers, for example fluoropolymers, are foamed by use of a solid formulation comprising thermoplastic polymer and manganese oxalate.

Described herein are solid and foamable fluoropolymer alloy compositions and foamed articles using said foamable fluoropolymer alloy compositions. The foamable fluoropolymer alloy compositions can comprise a fluoropolymer, and a plastic polymer mixed with said fluoropolymer, wherein said plastic polymer is miscible with said fluoropolymer. The fluoropolymer alloy composition may further comprise a foaming agent. By way of example, the foaming agent can be talc or a talc derivative, or a mixture of talc (or talc derivative) with a citrate compound, such as a citrate salt. One or more additives are added to render the compositions flame retardant and/or smoke suppressant.

The present disclosure provides a foamable composition containing (A) a high density polyethylene (HDPE); (B) a low density polyethylene (LDPE); (C) a peroxide-modified HDPE; and (D) a nucleator. The present disclosure also provides a process for making a foam composition. Additionally, the present disclosure provides a foam formed from a foamable composition, and a cable with an insulation layer containing the foam.

The process of foaming a polyolefin, e.g., polyethylene, composition using as a nucleator a combination an azodicarbonamide (ADCA) and a fluororesin at a ADCA:fluororesin weight ratio of 60:40 to 20:80. The synergic effect between these two nucleating agents results in a higher nuclei density and a foamed product with a smaller cell size as compared to processes using and products produced by the use of neat PTFE or neat ADCA alone as the nucleating agent.

The present invention relates to a compounded polyethylene composition having a density of 930 to 965 kg/m.sup.3 and comprising at least 0.01 percent by weight (wt-%) of sodium bicarbonate after compounding of the compounded polyethylene composition, wherein the ratio between sodium bicarbonate, in the polyethylene composition, before and after compounding is X, wherein X.sub.1X<X.sub.2, and X.sub.1 is 1.00 and X.sub.2 is 2.00, an article, for example, a coating, a wire or a cable, comprising the compounded polyethylene composition, a process for producing the article, and use of the compounded polyethylene composition.