Effect of physico-chemical factors on the propagation of water trees in polyethylene

The effect on the propagation phase of water trees of concentration and nature of salts in water has been studied in well-defined and reproducible conditions. Many assumptions have been examined in order to elucidate the mechanisms of the action of the salt, but no definite conclusion can be put forward. The study points out the difficulty of the problem, connected with the simultaneous presence of different mechanisms the relative importance of which are depending on the growth level of the trees.