A study of the effects of corona on polyethylene

The deleterious effect of corona on the insulation of wires and cables subjected to high voltages has long been recognized. This basic work was undertaken to investigate the effects of corona on commercial Fawcett-type polyethylenes (branched high-pressure free-radical polymers) used as insulation in high-voltage (HV) applications. Two questions were to be answered. What are the factors involved in the design of an HV cable? What are the criteria for selecting the best polyethylene resin for this use?