Effect of Thermal Aging on the Electrical Characteristics of XLPE for HV Cables

What is it about?

This work highlights the effect of thermal aging on the commonly studied electrical properties of cross-linked polyethylene devoted to be used in the HV cables insulation. The obtained results show the great effect of thermal aging on the electrical properties of the polymer especially for aging temperatures situated above the melting temperature of the material. On the other part, it is believed that the degradation degree is related to the applied temperature. Hence, the degradation process has been occurred in fast way as the temperature is higher. The almost deterioration markers in the dielectric behavior can be attributed to both the chemical and physical changes. The main chemical changes are the bulk thermo-oxidation degradation leading to the enhancement of dipoles and carbonyl groups concentration which disturbs the dielectric properties leading to the failure of the material. The physical changes result from the changes in the ratio of crystalline to amorphous parts in the material. Both changes have something to do it together in the life time reduction of the XLPE insulation.

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