Comparison of water treeing in amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers

The authors present results characterizing water treeing in amorphous polystyrene (PS) and in semicrystalline low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Clear differences in the water treeing of amorphous and semicrystalline polymers are observed. The experiments show the essential role played by the tie-molecules, which make the material less brittle, thus interfering with crack initiation and leading to a greater resistance of the polymeric insulation of high-voltage cables to breakdown.<>