Characterisation of amber defects in low density polyethylene insulation

As part of a research programme to examine the influence of controlled defects on the long term degradation mechanisms and life expectancy of polyethylene insulation a study has been carried out to characterise ambers and measure the short term impulse strength of standard LDPE samples with and without amber inclusions. Comparisons have also been made with samples containing inclusions of polyethylene which have either been thermally oxidised or exposed to gamma radiation