Electric Field Effect on the Dielectric Properties of Insulating Materials Destined for Medium Voltage Cable Insulation

The predominant use of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) in the insulation of medium and high voltage cables is attributed to its excellent electrical, thermal and mechanical properties. However, this insulation can undergo crucial damage under various constraints, including electrical stress. The main objective of this work is to analyze the influence of electrical aging on the dielectric characteristics, such as the relative permittivity, the dielectric loss factor and the loss index of the XLPE. Furthermore, an optical scanning electron microscope (SEM) is studied to visualize the surface condition of the solid insulator. Spectroscopic analysis Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy is also presented in this work. The results obtained show that the electric field causes the degradation of the XLPE dielectric characteristics.