Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides conductive and/or insulative compositions comprising polymer blends that include olefin and/or fluoropolymer and/or chlorofluoropolymer based resins with and without inorganic additives. These compositions reduce flammability and smoke generation and are used primarily for insulation materials and for high performance communications cables. In addition, support-separators using these same compositions, to be used within the communications cables, and normally within the cable core, are described. These unique compositions include polymer blends that offer both flame and smoke suppression while maintaining the characteristics necessary to improve electrical performance and allow for severe cost reduction over conventional separators. These polymers blends can also be utilized for fabricating shielding materials. The specially shaped core support-separators can be either interior to the cable jacket or be employed singularly without the benefit of a jacket and extend along the longitudinal length of the communications cable. Alternatively, if no jacket is used for cable completion, a portion of the separator with a thin layer of material surrounding the separator core can act as a type of skin for mechanical protection. Specially shaped core support-separators have both a central region as well as a plurality of shaped sections that extend outward from the central region for which the materials of construction are either solid or partially solid, foamed or foamed with a solid skin surface.

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First Claim