Influence of Thermal Aging and Water Adsorption on XLPE Cables Insulation Mechanical and Physico-chemical Properties

What is it about?

This paper presents an experimental study of the effects of thermal aging on the insulation characteristics of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) medium voltage cables. These cables are installed in Algeria where they are designed to withstand high temperatures and humidity levels. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to report experimental results concerning the effects of accelerated thermal aging and water adsorption on the XLPE insulation properties. For this purpose, mechanical characterization and visual observation analysis are performed. In addition, complementary diagnostic measurements, including Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), are carried out. Furthermore, a correlation between XLPE mechanical, physical, and physico-chemical changes due to thermal and water adsorption is deduced.

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