A consideration of Potentials of low-density polyethylene using metallocene catalyst as insulator for power cable

We investigated the high-field conduction, DC and impulse breakdown strength, space charge distribution, and tree inception voltage for three kinds of new low-density polyethylene (LDPE) prepared using a metallocene catalyst (mLna, mLao, mLldao), linear LDPE prepared using a Ziegler catalyst (LLao), and LDPE prepared by a high-pressure process (LDna). The dc and impulse breakdown strengths of LDPEs prepared using a metallocene catalyst were higher than those of LLao and LDna. The high-field currents of LDPEs prepared using a metallocene catalyst were lower than those of LLao and LDna. A homo-space charge was accumulated near the cathode in mLna. The tree inception voltage of mLna was higher than that of LDna. From these results, it is concluded that LDPE prepared using a metallocene catalyst has electrical insulating properties superior to the conventional LDPE and that the former has potential as a power cable insulator. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.