Oxidation in water-trees grown in field-aged cables

In order to detect oxidation in water trees, the authors performed micro-FTIR spectroscopy and oxidative induction time (OIT) measurements in many trees grown in various field-aged distribution cables. It is concluded that there is no definitive evidence that oxidation affects water-tree initiation in field-aged cross-linked polyethylene cables. It is found, in fact, that trees may be less oxidized than untreed insulations. It seems that the reduced OIT values of aged cables correspond to reduced antioxidant content.<>