Influence of antioxidants and cross-linking on the crystallinity of XLPE dielectrics

Crystallinity of polymeric dielectrics is known to be influenced by cross-linking. To study that influence, gel fraction measurements and evaluation of the degree of crystallinity were performed under different cross-linking temperatures using XLPE samples with different DCP concentrations. Furthermore, the influence of antioxidants on XLPE crystallinity was studied. Gel fraction and crystallinity measurements were made of XLPE samples containing different concentrations of DCP and phenolic or sulfur-type antioxidants. The experimental results are used to discuss the influence of antioxidant on cross-linking and crystallinity of XLPE.