Comparison of standard UV test methods for the ageing of cables

摘要

During service most materials and products are exposed to environmental factors that can cause degradation. Weathering is the term used to describe the adverse response of a material or product to climatic conditions, often causing unwanted reactions, deterioration of properties and premature product failure. The three main factors contributing to weathering are solar radiation (light energy), temperature and water (moisture). In the case of polymeric materials the effect of solar radiation, especially the ultra-violet (UV) part of the spectrum containing the highest energies, is the main concern when discussing material durability. A round robin evaluation comparing the resistance to accelerated UV ageing of common cable sheathing materials including LLDPE, TPU and EPR is reported. The project was initiated by CENELEC TC46X-TC86A/JWG2. Six laboratories participated in tests to cover the principal standard test methods and exposure conditions used by the European cable industry. Our paper reviews the results of this project and further addresses the advantages and disadvantages of various methods in the context of real outdoor exposure.