Influence of electrical aging on the properties of cross-linked Polyethylene use as electrical insulation on underground power cables

Partial discharge occurring at high voltage in ac electrical breakdown field measurements on insulating of medium voltage cables strongly reduces the breakdown field strength of material and conceals the intrinsic breakdown process. Electrical aging of high voltage insulators is the main factor that limits the reliability of the systems in which they are used. In the present paper we have made accelerated aging cable tests under electrical stress at three levels voltage. The test items include partial discharges and dissipation factor.