The aim of this work is to highlight the evolution of physico-chemical properties of peroxide crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation material exposed to electrical aging. Specific analysis and characterization studies were carried out to determine the effect of electrical aging on different samples at micro and macro levels. Based on the analytical investigations, it was shown that electrical aging yielded significant changes in the chemical and thermal characteristics of XLPE. It was also showed that property loss increased with the aging time.

This paper reports effects of ultraviolet (UV) light radiation on the physicochemical, electrical and mechanical properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) cable insulating materials. Changes in structural and morphological properties of UV-aged samples were characterized by various analytical methods such as attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATRFTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Additionally, elongation at break, tensile strength, dielectric strength, and optical properties were also evaluated. Changes in some physical properties of LDPE after exposing to UV irradiation clearly highlighted that the polymer underwent the structural degradation. In addition, it was also found that such degradation yielded both crosslinking and chain scission as two competing processes during UV aging.

This article examines the influence of micro- and nanoscale calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) fillers on the dielectric behavior and aging resistance of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based composites. PVC films containing varying CaCO₃ contents (0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% by weight) were subjected to accelerated aging through prolonged ultraviolet (UV) exposure and thermal stress for up to 1248 h. The evolution of dielectric properties was characterized by impedance spectroscopy, while structural modifications were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Additionally, changes in surface morphology, internal homogeneity (related to particle size, shape, and distribution), and chemical composition were investigated using scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), to evaluate the effects of irradiation and variations in the material’s surface composition and morphology. The results reveal a significant correlation between filler concentration and dielectric stability, highlighting the potential of CaCO₃ reinforcement to improve the long-term reliability of polymeric insulating materials. The results further highlight that beyond the amount of filler used, the fine-scale feature of CaCO₃, particularly its particle size and how well it is dispersed, has a significant impact on how the material responds to aging and maintains its dielectric properties.