Effects of Crosslinking Coagents on the Crosslinking Behavior and Electrical Properties of XLPE Cable Insulation Materials

This study investigated the effects of crosslinking coagents on the crosslinking behavior and electrical properties of high-voltage alternating current cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cable insulation materials. By introducing three crosslinking coagents with distinct structures—diallyl Phthalate (DAP), N,N-dipropylbenzenamine (DN), and triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC)—a systematic analysis was conducted on their influence on the crosslinking kinetics, gel content, dielectric properties, and breakdown strength of the XLPE material. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of coagents significantly enhances the crosslinking efficiency and crosslinking density of XLPE, while exerting varying degrees of influence on its electrical properties. Among them, the XLPE modified with TAIC—a crosslinking coagent characterized by high structural symmetry and a low dipole moment—exhibits both a high degree of crosslinking and a low loss tangent, demonstrating the most favorable electrical performance. This finding provides novel insights and a theoretical foundation for the development of high-voltage XLPE cable insulation materials.