Wire and cable insulation is made of three materials: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). These are all plastic insulation materials. What are the differences in material quality and performance between these types of plastic insulation? Let's briefly discuss the characteristics and differences between polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and cross-linked polyethylene.
What are the differences between polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and cross-linked polyethylene?
A. Polyethylene: PE, a polymer of ethylene, is non-toxic and has a waxy feel. It has excellent low-temperature resistance (minimum operating temperature can reach -70 to -100°C), good chemical stability, and resistance to most acids and alkalis (not oxidizing acids). It is insoluble in common solvents at room temperature, has low water absorption, and easily discolors. It also has excellent electrical insulation properties. However, polyethylene is very sensitive to environmental stress (chemical and mechanical effects) and has poor heat aging resistance.
B. Polyvinyl chloride: PVC, a polymer of vinyl chloride, has excellent chemical stability and is resistant to acids, alkalis, and some chemicals. It is also resistant to moisture, aging, and flame retardant. However, its operating temperature should not exceed 70°C, and it will harden at low temperatures.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is classified into soft plastics and hard plastics. Common soft plastics include cable and wire insulation and artificial leather products, such as 0.6/1kV PVC-insulated power cables. Common hard plastics include water pipes.
C. Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is an important technology for improving the performance of PE. Cross-linking PE significantly improves its overall performance, significantly enhancing its mechanical properties, environmental stress cracking resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, creep resistance, and electrical properties. It also significantly increases its temperature resistance, raising its heat resistance from 70°C to over 90°C, greatly broadening its application range. Currently, cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is widely used in pipes, films, cables, and foam products. For example, XLPE-insulated power cables of 35kV and below are available.
What is the difference between XLPE-insulated cables and PVC cables?
1. XLPE-insulated cables can withstand temperatures up to 90°C.
2. The temperature resistance rating of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cables is generally 70°C.
3. PVC releases toxic HCl fumes when burned.
4. The current carrying capacity of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated cables is greater than that of PVC cables.
This concludes an introduction to the differences between polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). For cables of the same conductor cross-sectional area, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) sheathing is a flat cable made by wrapping a multi-strand copper conductor with insulating material. The sheathing material is pressed together using high-tech automated production lines. This cable offers advantages such as flexibility, flexibility, flexibility, relative thinness, compact size, and ease of connection and disassembly.
