The study on electrical insulation characteristics of Co/sup 60/ /spl gamma/-irradiated low density polyethylene containing anti-treeing additives

The effectiveness of diolcompounds as anti-treeing additives in low density polyethylene under radiation environments is evaluated in this study. 1,2-tetradecandiol, 1,10-decanediol, 1,8-octanediol were selected as anti-treeing additives. LDPE containing the additives was crosslinked with dicumyl peroxide, then these specimens were irradiated by Co/sup 60/ /spl gamma/-rays for 200 kGy under air atmosphere. Treeing inception voltage, propagation, AC breakdown strength and volume resistivity measurements were carried out for analysis of electrical insulation characteristics. The type of radicals on which connected additives gave very important clues to the changes in the results for each material. Also, the quantity of polar groups in molecular weight affected electrical insulation characteristics. As irradiated, the insulating characteristics showed a decreased tendency, because of produced conductive ions and gas by irradiation.