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PVC or XLPE insulation

Published: 11 April 2014 Category: Trade Talk

Question from Voltimum user: "I have a cable and I want to know if the insulation is PVC or XLPE, how can I tell?"

PVC or XLPE insulation

Answer provided by Bob Merrick, Commercial Manager - Technical at Prysmian Group.

First look at the cable sheath if in the marking legend it bears a mark V90 then the insulation is PVC if it bears the mark X-90 it is XLPE, these being the Australian standard codes for such insulations.

If there are no marks on the sheath the simplest way to make a quick assessment is to take a fine sliver of the insulation, place it in a glass of water and poke it to the bottom (exclude any attached air bubbles). If the sliver continually floats to the top of the water it is polyethylene, if it sinks it is PVC. This is because polyethylene has a density <1 whereas PVC has a density >1.

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First look at the cable sheath if in the marking legend it bears a mark V90 then the insulation is PVC if it bears the mark X-90 it is XLPE, these being the Australian standard codes for such insulations. If there are no marks on the sheath the simplest way to make a quick assessment is to take a fine sliver of the insulation, place it in a glass of water and poke it to the bottom (exclude any attached air bubbles). If the sliver continually floats to the top of the water it is polyethylene, if it sinks it is PVC. This is because polyethylene has a density <1 whereas PVC has a density >1. - See more at: http://www.voltimum.com.au/content/pvc-or-xlpe#sthash.KX9OYRXp.dpuf