Multiparameter Weight Analysis and Comprehensive Performance Evaluation of EPDM Rubber Under Ultraviolet Environment

With the implementation of the “double carbon” strategy, much attention has been paid to the development and utilization of clean and renewable energy, such as offshore wind energy. Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) cables are widely used in power transmission of offshore wind turbines due to its excellent electrical and mechanical properties. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a great destructive effect on cable insulation materials under marine conditions. First, the effects of UV radiation on the electrical and mechanical properties of EPDM were studied by artificial accelerated aging experiments. Furthermore, several parameters, such as breakdown strength and tensile strength, were analyzed, and the effect of UV radiation on the comprehensive properties of EPDM was analyzed. The results show that EPDM undergoes recrosslinking, oxidation, and degradation reaction in the process of UV radiation aging, resulting in varying degrees of changes in resistivity, dielectric properties, breakdown strength, tensile strength, and other parameters. The improved gray relation analysis (GRA) is used to further analyze that the comprehensive properties under UV radiation of EPDM decreased rapidly from 0 to 480 h, with a decrease of 27.67%, and the comprehensive properties of the samples remained stable with the extension of aging time. This work has an important guiding significance for the long-term reliability evaluation of cable insulation materials for offshore wind power.