Lifetime prediction and condition monitoring of polymeric components

Methods for predicting the lifetime of polymeric components, such as electrical cable insulation, cable jacket materials and elastomeric seals, have been developed over the last few years. These are based on a generic model of polymer degradation, where the model parameters are determined experimentally from accelerated test data. Linking the predictive model to condition monitoring methods provides the prospect of carrying out residual life assessments on this type of component without having to rely on long term trending. The techniques were originally developed for the nuclear power industry but have a much broader application to any industry where polymeric components are exposed to harsh environmental conditions.