The application of polypropylene cables in China is still in its infancy, and there is still a lack of research and evaluation on the aging characteristics and long-term operating life of polypropylene cable insulation materials. By using the thermogravimetric technique, we took an appropriate amount of polypropylene insulating material and held it at 280°C, 290°C, 300°C, and 310°C for a certain period of time to obtain the thermogravimetric curve of polypropylene. Then we calculated the time elapsed for the constant temperature weight loss of 5%, 10%, and 15% of the polypropylene insulation material and the activation energy of the material. Linear fitting was performed by the Arrhenius equation, and the life equations of polypropylene weight loss of 5%, 10% and 15% were obtained. Obviously, it is inferred that the maximum operating temperature of the polypropylene insulated cable is 30 years, which met the demands of power cable operation, and the activation energy of the polypropylene insulating material was verified based on the owaza and kissinger methods. The research in this paper will provide certain technical support for the application and operation of polypropylene power cables.
 

Polypropylene; TGA; Activation Energy; Aging Life