The challenge of tracking in medium-voltage cables
Electrical energy must be transported over long distances before reaching the end user. High-voltage cables distribute power on a wide scale, and medium-voltage cables play a key role in regional distribution. However, these cables are exposed to adverse environmental conditions, such as dust, humidity and vegetation — factors that can trigger a phenomenon known as tracking.
Tracking is a destructive effect that affects cable sheathing due to magnetic fields generated by the proximity of several cables. The phenomenon can compromise the safety and efficiency of the electrical distribution network, posing a critical challenge for cable manufacturers.
Delta Tecnic has developed a masterbatch that is designed to prevent the tracking effect in medium-voltage cables. Its formulation incorporates additives that act as a protective barrier against damage caused by magnetic fields and adverse environmental conditions.
Using this masterbatch with a wide variety of polymers can eliminate the need to rely on specific compounds, offering manufacturers greater freedom in their production processes.
The additive package included in our solution is strictly conceived to avoid the destruction of the plastic in the face of magnetic fields.
The lifetime of the coating on a cable affected by the tracking effect can be reduced, degrading in months or years under adverse conditions such as high humidity, pollution and intense electric fields. However, advanced coatings incorporating solutions such as Delta Tecnic's masterbatches, designed to prevent this phenomenon, can extend its durability, ensuring greater cable safety and efficiency. The masterbatches also include antioxidants.
Delta Tecnic masterbatches that comply with anti-tracking standards are available in black and gray colors. For aesthetic reasons and visual integration into the environment, the gray color is preferred in Latin America, where the cables are usually installed aerially. The company has designed solutions adapted to such geographical needs, allowing manufacturers to meet the requirements of each market without compromising performance.
In addition to their application in medium-voltage cables, Delta Tecnic's masterbatches can be effective in the protection of fiber optic cables, which are also exposed to adverse environmental conditions that can affect their performance.