Water treeing as a mechanical damage: influence of process parameters

摘要

Experiments are described which show correlations between the mechanical resistance of a polymer for cable insulation and its resistance to water treeing. It was also shown that the defects in the polymer morphology, representing areas of less mechanical resistance, are also preferential ways of water-tree propagation and of higher water-tree propagation rate. These results demonstrate the essential role played by manufacturing conditions in determining the behavior of a polymer with respect to its resistance to water treeing.