Recent developments in photoinitiated crosslinking of polyethylene and its industrial applications

The recent developments in the photoinitiated cross-linking of polyethylene and the significant breakthrough of its industrial application are reviewed. The enhanced photo-initiation system, the dynamics of photoinitiated crosslinking, the optimum conditions, the crystal morphological structures and related properties, and the photo- and thermo-oxidation stability of photocrosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) materials have been elucidated systematically. A new technique for producing photocrosslinked XLPE-insulated wire and cable is described in detail. It can be expected that the future applications of photocrosslinking technique of polyolefins will be very promising.