The insulating materials and insulation layers of electrical wires and cables
Annotated Bibliography: Insulating Materials for Electric Wires and Cables
Scope and purpose: This bibliography is intended for cable-industry engineers, electrical engineers, graduate students and academic writers. It compiles the core standards, Chinese journal papers and foreign literature on cable insulating materials, with entries in GB/T 7714 reference style and brief annotations, ready to be cited in academic papers and technical reports. Coverage: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), ethylene propylene rubber (EPR/HEPR), and low-smoke zero-halogen (LSZH) materials, together with XLPE water-tree aging, partial discharge and flame-retardancy evaluation.
1. Overview of Insulating Material Systems
The four most common cable insulating materials, their key properties and corresponding standards form the basis for reading the literature that follows:
|
Material |
Code |
Max. continuous conductor temp. |
Features and applications |
Main standards |
|
Polyvinyl chloride |
PVC |
70 °C (insulation) |
Thermoplastic; low cost, self-extinguishing, but emits halogenated toxic smoke on burning; mainly used in low-voltage building wires and sheaths. |
GB/T 8815; GB/T 5023; IEC 60227 |
|
Cross-linked polyethylene |
XLPE |
90 °C (250 °C short-circuit) |
Thermosetting; excellent electrical properties, high temperature rating and high ampacity; the mainstream insulation for medium- and high-voltage power cables. |
JB/T 10437; GB/T 11017; IEC 60502 |
|
Ethylene propylene rubber |
EPR / HEPR |
90 °C |
Flexible, heat- and moisture-resistant; suited to flexible/mobile applications and fire-resistant cables. |
IEC 60502; IEC 60245 |
|
Low-smoke zero-halogen flame-retardant |
LSZH |
70–90 °C |
Polyolefin-based with halogen-free flame retardants; low smoke, non-toxic and non-corrosive on burning; used in metro systems, hospitals and crowded places. |
GB 31247; GB/T 19666 |
2. Core Standards
2.1 National and Industry Standards
|
Standard No. |
Title |
Key content relevant to insulating materials |
|
GB/T 8815-2008 (to be replaced by GB/T 8815-2026, effective 2027-02-01) |
Plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds for wire and cable |
Fundamental standard for PVC cable compounds. Specifies the classification, appearance, mechanical/physical properties and electrical properties (including after thermal aging) of soft PVC compounds made from PVC resin with plasticizers and stabilizers; the acceptance basis for PVC insulating and sheathing compounds. |
|
JB/T 10437-2024 (replaces JB/T 10437-2004) |
Cross-linkable polyethylene compounds for wire and cable |
Key industry standard for XLPE insulating compounds. Based on low-density polyethylene with a cross-linking agent, it specifies technical requirements, test methods and inspection rules for cross-linkable insulation for XLPE cables up to 35 kV. |
|
T/ZZB 1243-2019 |
XLPE insulating compound for 66 kV–220 kV AC cables |
Zhejiang Manufacturing group standard setting quality and technical requirements for high-voltage-grade XLPE insulating compounds. |
|
GB/T 11017.2-2024 (effective 2025-04-01) |
Cross-linked polyethylene insulated power cables and their accessories for rated voltages 66 kV and 110 kV — Part 2: Cables |
Product standard for high-voltage XLPE cables; specifies XLPE insulation thickness, insulation eccentricity, semi-conductive screening and the electrical/mechanical performance of drums. |
|
GB/T 12706.2-2020 |
Extruded solid insulation power cables and accessories for rated voltages from 1 kV up to 35 kV — Part 2 |
Product standard for medium-/low-voltage extruded-insulation (XLPE, PVC) cables; specifies insulating materials, insulation thickness and finished-cable tests. |
|
GB/T 5023 (series) |
PVC insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V |
Product standard for low-voltage PVC building wires; specifies PVC insulation thickness, electrical properties and aging requirements. |
|
GB 31247-2014 |
Classification of burning behaviour for electric and optical fibre cables |
Classifies cable fire performance into B1–B3 levels by burning drips (d), smoke toxicity (t) and corrosivity (a); the grading basis for selecting and evaluating LSZH and flame-retardant cables. |
2.2 International Standards
|
Standard No. |
Title |
Key content relevant to insulating materials |
|
IEC 60502-1:2021 / IEC 60502-2:2014+AMD1:2024 |
Power cables with extruded insulation for rated voltages from 1 kV up to 30 kV |
International standard for extruded-insulation power cables; defines the codes, maximum operating/short-circuit temperatures, volume resistivity and finished-cable tests for PVC, XLPE and EPR/HEPR insulating compounds. |
|
IEC 60811 (series) |
Electric and optical fibre cables — Test methods for insulating and sheathing materials |
Master standard for common test methods on insulation/sheath materials: thickness and overall dimensions, mechanical properties, thermal aging, hot set, water absorption, density, etc.; the methodological basis for insulating-material testing. |
|
IEC 60227 (series) |
Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V |
International product standard for low-voltage PVC insulated cables, referencing IEC 60811 for PVC insulation/sheath material tests. |
|
IEC 60245 (series) |
Rubber insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V |
International product standard for rubber (e.g. EPR) insulated cables. |
3. XLPE Insulation Aging and Water Treeing
A novel water-tree repair technique for XLPE cables based on nano-SiO₂ composite filling[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society.
Annotation: Proposes a cable repair fluid that self-generates a nano-SiO₂ composite filler inside water-tree channels. Water-needle electrode tests accelerate water-tree aging of XLPE insulation; dielectric-loss and power-frequency breakdown tests show the nano-composite filling fills water-tree voids, suppresses water-tree growth and raises the breakdown voltage.
Diagnosis of local insulation aging defects in XLPE cables by high-voltage frequency-domain dielectric spectroscopy[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2022.
Annotation: Uses water-needle electrodes to accelerate water-tree aging and investigates the diagnostic capability of high-voltage frequency-domain dielectric spectroscopy for local insulation defects in XLPE cables, providing a non-destructive method for the condition assessment of in-service cables.
Repair of water-tree-aged XLPE cables with siloxane[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2013.
Annotation: A siloxane repair fluid effectively penetrates water-tree aged regions, removes moisture and fills water-tree voids, lowering the dissipation factor and raising the breakdown voltage; finite-element simulation analyses electric-field concentration at water-tree tips.
3.1 Low-Smoke Zero-Halogen (LSZH) Materials
Sun T, Wang Y J, Chai Z J, et al. Preparation and properties of thermoplastic low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant polypropylene insulation for wires and cables up to 450/750 V[J]. Electric Wire & Cable, 2025, 68(3): 42-49.
Annotation: Prepares a thermoplastic LSZH flame-retardant polypropylene insulation for low-voltage wires and studies its flame retardancy, electrical and processing properties; LSZH compounds must simultaneously satisfy low smoke (light transmittance > 60%), halogen-free and flame-retardant requirements.
Zhang X. Research progress in low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant technology for EVA cable compounds[J]. Insulating Materials, 2023, 56(4): 7-11.
Annotation: Reviews the flame-retardant systems, halogen-free flame-retardant synergies and mechanisms of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)-based LSZH cable compounds; a review-type reference for LSZH formulation research.
Influence of Vicat softening temperature on the extrusion stability of LSZH materials and optimisation strategies[J]. Electric Wire & Cable, 2026.
Annotation: Studies the influence of the Vicat softening temperature on LSZH extrusion stability and proposes optimisation strategies, focusing on the match between material thermal properties and extrusion processing.
3.2 Flame-Retardant Performance Evaluation and Mechanism
Performance evaluation and mechanism study of flame-retardant cables[J]. Electric Wire & Cable.
Annotation: To meet the B1 (d0, t0, a1) flame-retardant requirement, three sheathing materials are compared to select a qualified formulation; the influence of key extrusion factors—flow splitter, extrusion temperature, die and screw—on flame retardancy is studied.
Effect of silicone masterbatch on the electrical and flame-retardant properties of halogen-free cable compounds[J]. Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica.
Annotation: Studies the synergistic effect of a silicone masterbatch on the electrical and flame-retardant properties of halogen-free cable compounds, in the field of halogen-free flame-retardant modification.
4. Foreign Literature
Qin C, et al. Partial Discharge Signal Pattern Recognition of Composite Insulation Defects in Cross-Linked Polyethylene Cables[J]. Sensors, 2024, 24(11): 3460.
Annotation: Studies partial discharge (PD) signal pattern recognition for composite insulation defects in XLPE cables, for automatic diagnosis of insulation defects.
Water-Tree Resistant Characteristics of Crosslinker-Modified-SiO₂/XLPE Nanocomposites[J]. Polymers, 2021.
Annotation: Investigates the water-tree resistance of crosslinker-modified nano-SiO₂/XLPE nanocomposites; chemical grafting suppresses water-molecule condensation between polyethylene lamellae, improving water-tree aging.
5. Complete Reference List (GB/T 7714 Style)
Standards:
1. GB/T 8815-2008, Plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds for wire and cable[S]. Beijing: China Standards Press, 2008. (GB/T 8815-2026 to be implemented on 2027-02-01)
2. JB/T 10437-2024, Cross-linkable polyethylene compounds for wire and cable[S]. Beijing: China Machine Press, 2024.
3. T/ZZB 1243-2019, XLPE insulating compound for 66 kV–220 kV AC cables[S]. 2019.
4. GB/T 11017.2-2024, Cross-linked polyethylene insulated power cables and their accessories for rated voltages 66 kV and 110 kV — Part 2: Cables[S]. Beijing: China Standards Press, 2024.
5. GB/T 12706.2-2020, Extruded solid insulation power cables and accessories for rated voltages from 1 kV up to 35 kV — Part 2[S]. Beijing: China Standards Press, 2020.
6. GB/T 5023 (series), PVC insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V[S]. Beijing: China Standards Press.
7. GB 31247-2014, Classification of burning behaviour for electric and optical fibre cables[S]. Beijing: China Standards Press, 2014.
8. IEC 60502-1:2021, Power cables with extruded solid insulation for rated voltages from 1 kV up to 30 kV — Part 1: Cables for rated voltages of 1 kV and 3 kV[S]. Geneva: IEC, 2021.
9. IEC 60811 (series), Electric and optical fibre cables — Test methods for insulating and sheathing materials[S]. Geneva: IEC.
10. IEC 60227 (series), Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V[S]. Geneva: IEC.
Journal papers:
11. A novel water-tree repair technique for XLPE cables based on nano-SiO₂ composite filling[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society.
12. Diagnosis of local insulation aging defects in XLPE cables by high-voltage frequency-domain dielectric spectroscopy[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2022.
13. Repair of water-tree-aged XLPE cables with siloxane[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2013.
14. Sun T, Wang Y J, Chai Z J, et al. Preparation and properties of thermoplastic low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant polypropylene insulation for wires and cables up to 450/750 V[J]. Electric Wire & Cable, 2025, 68(3): 42-49.
15. Zhang X. Research progress in low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant technology for EVA cable compounds[J]. Insulating Materials, 2023, 56(4): 7-11.
16. Influence of Vicat softening temperature on the extrusion stability of LSZH materials and optimisation strategies[J]. Electric Wire & Cable, 2026.
17. Performance evaluation and mechanism study of flame-retardant cables[J]. Electric Wire & Cable.
18. Effect of silicone masterbatch on the electrical and flame-retardant properties of halogen-free cable compounds[J]. Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica.
Foreign literature:
19.