The present invention provides alumina hydrate particles, a flame retardant and a resin composition that are each for an electric wire/cable covering material improvable in flame retardancy and mechanical properties while the covering material keeps acid resistance; such an electric wire/cable; and producing methods thereof. The alumina hydrate particles of the present invention for electric wire/cable covering material have an average particle size of 0.5 to 2.5 μm, and having a primary particle variation R of 24% or less, the variation R being represented by the following expression:
primary particle variation R (%)=“standard deviationσ(μm) of major axis diameters of the primary particles”/“average value(μm) of the major axis diameters of the primary particles”×100.

The present invention provides alumina hydrate particles, a flame retardant and a resin composition that are each for an electric wire/cable covering material improvable in flame retardancy and mechanical properties while the covering material keeps acid resistance; such an electric wire/cable; and producing methods thereof. The alumina hydrate particles of the present invention for electric wire/cable covering material have an average particle size of 0.5 to 2.5 μm, and having a primary particle variation R of 24% or less, the variation R being represented by the following expression:
primary particle variation R (%)=“standard deviationσ(μm) of major axis diameters of the primary particles”/“average value(μm) of the major axis diameters of the primary particles”×100.

An (electron beam)-curable (EBC) formulation comprising an EBC polyolefin compound having a crystallinity of from 0 to less than 50 weight percent (wt %) and/or having a density of 0.930 gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm.sup.3) or less; and an alkenyl-functional monocyclic organosiloxane (“silicon-based coagent”). Also included are a cured polyolefin product prepared by electron-beam irradiating the EBC formulation; methods of making and using the EBC formulation or cured polyolefin product; and articles containing or made from the EBC formulation or cured polyolefin product.

Provided is a cable having a sheath composition having flame retardancy and water resistance, and a sheath layer formed of the sheath composition. Specifically, the present invention relates to a sheath composition for simultaneously improving flame retardancy and water resistance of a sheath layer of a cable, which are in a trade-off relation with each other, and physical properties such as heat resistance, hardness, and wear resistance, improving appearance, and reducing manufacturing costs; and a cable having a sheath layer formed of the sheath composition.

Provided is a cable having a sheath composition having flame retardancy and water resistance, and a sheath layer formed of the sheath composition. Specifically, the present invention relates to a sheath composition for simultaneously improving flame retardancy and water resistance of a sheath layer of a cable, which are in a trade-off relation with each other, and physical properties such as heat resistance, hardness, and wear resistance, improving appearance, and reducing manufacturing costs; and a cable having a sheath layer formed of the sheath composition.

A shielded flat cable includes multiple conductors arrayed in parallel along a first plane, a resin insulating layer including first and second resin insulating layers that cover the conductors, the first plane being sandwiched between the first and second resin insulating layers, a shield layer that covers an outer surface of the resin insulating layer and that includes an adhesive, and a pair of flame-retardant resin films that cover an outer surface of the shield layer. The pair of resin films have a first bonding section and a second bonding section where the pair of resin films are bonded to each other. The outer surface of the shield layer has a first portion that contacts the first bonding section and a second portion that contacts the second bonding section. The shield layer has a third bonding section where the adhesive is bonded to each other.

A shielded flat cable includes multiple conductors arrayed in parallel along a first plane, a resin insulating layer including first and second resin insulating layers that cover the conductors, the first plane being sandwiched between the first and second resin insulating layers, a shield layer that covers an outer surface of the resin insulating layer and that includes an adhesive, and a pair of flame-retardant resin films that cover an outer surface of the shield layer. The pair of resin films have a first bonding section and a second bonding section where the pair of resin films are bonded to each other. The outer surface of the shield layer has a first portion that contacts the first bonding section and a second portion that contacts the second bonding section. The shield layer has a third bonding section where the adhesive is bonded to each other.

Provided is an insulated electrical cable that includes a base resin containing a polypropylene resin, and a metallic hydroxide serving as a flame retardant, and has high wear resistance and favorable low-temperature resistance. An insulated electrical cable 10 includes a wire conductor 12, and an insulating coating 14 that coats an outer circumference of the wire conductor 12, and the insulating coating 14 includes a polymer component containing a polypropylene resin, and a flame retardant containing a metallic hydroxide. The polypropylene resin has a heat of fusion of at least 35 J/g, and in a molecular weight distribution of the polymer component, a number average molecular weight calculated at a peak with the largest area is at least 5.00×10.sup.4.

Provided is an insulated electrical cable that includes a base resin containing a polypropylene resin, and a metallic hydroxide serving as a flame retardant, and has high wear resistance and favorable low-temperature resistance. An insulated electrical cable 10 includes a wire conductor 12, and an insulating coating 14 that coats an outer circumference of the wire conductor 12, and the insulating coating 14 includes a polymer component containing a polypropylene resin, and a flame retardant containing a metallic hydroxide. The polypropylene resin has a heat of fusion of at least 35 J/g, and in a molecular weight distribution of the polymer component, a number average molecular weight calculated at a peak with the largest area is at least 5.00×10.sup.4.

A flame-retardant cable is disclosed, the cable having a core comprising at least one conductor, and a coating layer made from a low smoke zero halogen flame-retardant polymer composition comprising an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and a polyethylene having a density lower than 0.925 g/cm.sup.3 as polymeric base added with: a) from 110 to 160 phr of at least one metal hydroxide; b) from 1 to 7 phr of a phyllosilicate clay; c) from 1 to 7 phr of melamine or a derivate thereof; and d) from 1 to 7 phr of zinc borate.