Aging of polymeric insulating materials in power cables

More than 160 years of history go with the use of polymers in the cable industry. Polyethylene of low and high density and crosslinked polyethylene gradually succeeded paper and polyvinylchloride. This review discusses some aspects of the aging processes of polyethylene under working conditions. Electrical and water treeing are considered, dependent upon the morphology and the induced characteristics of the insulating material.