Study of the space charge measurement results on two kinds of extruded XLPE mini-cables

The results of space charge measurements carried out on mini-cables having two kinds of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) materials are presented in this paper. One material is a classic XLPE homopolymer, the other is high productivity XLPE compound. Space charge measurements were performed on mini-cables at three different temperatures and two voltage levels in order to obtain information about charge trapping phenomenology. Conduction current measurements were also carried out to support space charge results. It is found that the high-productivity material accumulates less space charge than the classic material at relatively higher temperature, when compared at the same voltage. Space charge and conduction current measurement results show that the threshold for space charge accumulation and for conduction of the high productivity material is more sensitive to temperature.