Abstract
The success of the fully-filled waterproof telecommunication cable has been based upon a good understanding of the two key functional components, polyethylene insulation and hydrocarbon filling compound, and the interaction between them. This paper, as well as reviewing the well-established aspects of compatibility, presents evidence from long-term laboratory ageing tests of up to 10 years duration that premature oxidative degradation of insulation can be avoided by careful selection of combinations of polymer and filling compound and attention to the stabilisation of both components. It also addresses the particular problem of cell filling encountered with cellular insulation, and throws new light on its mechanism. A method of suppressing the phenomenon by a compositional modification is described for the major types of hydrocarbon filling compounds.
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