Development of nuclear qualified heat shrinkable cable accessories

The heat shrinkable cable accessories using in nuclear power plants are required to be high security level due to the special environment. The technical requirements include not only excellent electrical properties, good mechanical properties and flame retardance, but also long life and high radiation resistance. In this paper, the properties of polyolefin were modified using rubber and plastic blending. The mechanical properties, radiation resistance and heat ageing of blend system were studied. The composites using PE/EPR as matrix plus some additives present excellent radiation resistance and heat ageing resistance. The PE/EPR blend system can reach the 1E class K1 category requirements of 1E class K1 category standard and be used in nuclear power plants. (authors)