Thermal Aging Effects on Fire Performance of the Cross-Linked Polyethylene Insulated Cable

Abstract

To evaluate the fire performance of the cable in service, the ignition time, heat release rate and insulation failure parameters of the accelerated thermal aging cable on stimulated fire condition were studied. The results show that, the extended ignition time and decreasing peak of heat release rate of the cable in the early stage of aging are the addictive including the lubricant, plasticizer and anti-oxygen. In the aggravating of thermal aging, labile materials with low heating value will be exhausted, while the thermal stability of insulation sheath material decreases, its corresponding ignition time will start to shorten and initial peak of heat release rate will start to rise. The insulation failure temperature of the cable is related with the decomposition temperature of insulation materials of the cable by heating. In each aging stage, the decomposition temperatures of insulation materials by heating are all lower than the insulation failure temperature of the cable for about 10°C. The reason for the insulation failure of the cable is that the ambient heat , gives rise to the decomposition by heating of internal insulation materials of the cable through sheath materials finally under the thermal transmission effect.