Service life of crosslinked polyethylene as high voltage cable insulation

This paper provides a summary of four EPRI‐sponsored contracts that studied the physico‐chemical characteristics and thermal and electrical behavior of unaged and service‐aged crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE)—insulated cables, and sections of the insulation obtained from this extruded cable. It has been demonstrated that volatile components generated primarily from the peroxideinduced crosslinking process can be defined and quantitatively measured. The morphology of the aged and unaged XLPE extruded insulation can be defined, and the thermal behavior on a micro (morphology changes) and macro (cable aging) level compared. Changes in microvoid level due to melting and recrystallization during cable operation appear to correlate with the limited amount of ac breakdown strength data obtained, and thermal overload of the cable conductor causes complete melting (and recrystallization on cooling) reducing the microvoid level. A single thermal overload alters the morphology but many thermal overloads are required to drive off the volatiles.