Abstract: A cable jacket resin using PE-LD/EVA as a matrix, Mg(OH)2 as a flame retardant, OMMT as a filler, and POE as a toughener was prepared. The material mechanical and flame retardant properties of the resin and the effect of γ-ray radiation on these properties were investigated. It was found that, with increasing POE content, the tensile strength and elongation at break increased, and its hardness decreased. During burning process, there was a good synergistic effect between Mg(OH)2 and OMMT. When the radiation dose was 90～100 kGy, the optimal recipe was PE-LD/EVA/Mg(OH)2/OMMT＝50/50/60/4, whose limited oxygen index reached over 32 %, tensile strength was 11 MPa and the elongation at break was above 900 %.

Key words: cable, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, organicmontmorillonite, radiation crosslinking, mechanical property, flame retardant