Abstract

Moscovici, Armand (The Kerite Co.). Insulated wire and cables represent a significant industry of more than $10 billion in 1990. The largest segments of various types and designs are building wires, electronic and data communication wires, power cables, fiber optics, automotive wires, magnet and transformer wires, and specialty wires. Power cables have the most complicated designs. Depending on the voltages used, power cables can contain many layers, each one made of specially developed materials with very specific characteristics and functions.

The electrical properties of most concern to insulation are dielectric strength, electrical resistance, dielectric constant, power factor, and corona resistance. In power cables electrical and water treeing characteristics influence lifetimes, especially when the service is under high voltages and wet conditions. In coaxial data communication wires, the electric properties related to the dielectric constant determine the quality of the signal: impedance, capacitance, attenuation, crosstalk, and time delay, and velocity of propagation. Typical materials used in various insulated wires and cables are polyethylene, polypropylene, silicone rubber, ethylene–propylene rubber, fluoroplastics, poly(vinyl chloride), and other plastics to lesser extents. Vol. 14, pp. 627–647, 28 refs. to January 1994.