Electrical aging of low density polyethylene cable insulation

Reports the results of an experimental investigation to examine the influence of controlled defects on the long-term degradation mechanisms and life expectancy of polyethylene insulation. Spherical conducting beads have been introduced into low-density polyethylene (LDPE) samples which have been aged at three different frequencies. Comparisons have also been made with control samples without any conducting beads. That failure of the specimens did not occur at the site of deliberately introduced conducting and nonconducting inclusions was unexpected. This has highlighted the problem of identifying the actual cause of failure in the LDPE samples currently under test