A new water tree retardant XLPE

A water-tree-retardant XLPE (crosslinked polyethylene) with permanent water-tree retardancy is introduced. By using polymer-modification technology, the water-tree retardancy is permanently incorporated into the insulation. Water-treeing tests performed on the material indicated its excellent water-tree retardancy. This is further reinforced with long-term life-test and/or breakdown-test data. The data obtained to date support the excellent and permanent water-tree retardancy of this insulation compound which is suitable for medium and high-voltage power cables. The results of water-treeing tests in the laboratory and on a model cable, a miniature cable life test, voltage life tests on 6.6 kV and 66 kV cables, accelerated water-treeing tests on 15 kV cables, long-term accelerated aging/breakdown tests, and field-aged cable evaluation are presented