DC conductivity measurements on XLPE specimens with layer thickness in the mm range

Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is well known as an excellent insulating material. Within the area of extruded cables for high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) power transmission XLPE has become a widely used compound. The determination of accurate DC conductivity is important to classify material changes and their impact on the electrical behaviour. Methods for performing DC current measurements whilst preserving a constant material composition are in discussion. A recently published test setup focusing on layer thickness in the mm range states promising results regarding reproducibility of DC conductivity characterization. Based on this realization a novel measurement setup is derived with the purpose to describe this setup in detail, compare and discuss the advantages of this setup focusing on measurement robustness.