NEW METHOD FOR THE PREVENTION OF WATER AND SULFIDE PENETRATION AND DETERIORATION OF CROSS-LINKED POLYETHYLENE (XLP) INSULATED SUBMARINE POWER CABLES.

Based upon investigations reported herein, the major causes for the deterioration of rubber and plastics insulated submarine power cables have been established as water permeation and sulfide infection. An especially significant discovery was tht sulfide infection in conventional non-metallic sheathed submarine cables is inevitable wherever the surrounding water contains sulfate reducing bacteria. As a result of studies to reduce or preferably eliminate cable degradation om these environments, it was determined that the incorporation of a newly developed thermoplastic barrier was effictive in preventing such deterioration.