Evaluation of ethylene-propylene rubber as electrical insulating material for a superconducting cable

Mechanical and electrical properties of ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) pieces were studied in comparison with polyethylene (PE) in the cryogenic temperature region to examine the possibility of its use as solid electrical insulating material in superconducting cables. The mechanical properties of EPR are preferable to those of PE mainly because of its low shrinkage. The electric strength and dielectric loss tangent of EPR are comparable with those of PE at liquid helium temperature. Based on the encouraging results, an extruded EPR-insulated cable was fabricated and its 15-m length was cooled down to liquid helium temperature successfully. Partial discharge experiments at that temperature showed good electrical characteristics. This is a breakthrough in terms of the electrical insulation design of cryogenic cables.>