A rapid method is proposed for estimating the service life of electric
cables with polymer insulation. On the basis of investigating polyeth
ylene insulation in the initial state and after holding at a high temp
erature, a formula is obtained which establishes the relationship betw
een the cable service life and the position of the alpha-relaxation pe
ak on the frequency dependences of dielectric losses. Frequency depend
ences of the tangent of the angle of dielectric losses (tan delta) are
also obtained. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.