o The company helps prevent 'tracking', a condition that degrades cable sheathing due to the electric fields generated in power distribution networks.
o This solution incorporates a set of advanced additives that are compatible with a wide variety of polymers, giving manufacturers greater flexibility in their production process.
Barcelona, February 19, 2025 Global electrification demands more efficient and adaptable distribution networks. In this constantly evolving scenario, Delta Tecnic, a company specialized in the manufacture of masterbatches for the plastics and cable industry, is making a difference with its range of masterbatches that protect against adverse effects. The company is particularly driving medium-voltage cable manufacturing with a solution that optimizes production efficiency, reduces complexity for manufacturers and ensures superior performance.
The challenge of tracking medium voltage cables
La energía eléctrica debe transportarse a grandes distancias antes de llegar al usuario final. Este proceso se realiza a través de una compleja red de cables de alta y media tensión. Mientras que los cables de alta tensión distribuyen la energía a gran escala, los de media tensión desempeñan un papel clave en la distribución regional. Sin embargo, estos cables están expuestos a condiciones ambientales adversas, como polvo, humedad y vegetación, factores que pueden desencadenar un fenómeno conocido como tracking.
Tracking is a destructive effect that affects cable sheathing due to magnetic fields generated by the proximity of several cables. This phenomenon can compromise the safety and efficiency of the electrical distribution network, posing a critical challenge for cable manufacturers.
A masterbatch designed to avoid “tracking” effect
Delta Tecnic has developed a masterbatch specially designed to prevent the tracking effect in medium voltage cables. Its advanced formulation incorporates additives that act as a protective barrier against damage caused by magnetic fields and adverse environmental conditions. The possibility of using these masterbatches with a wide variety of polymers is a crucial advantage, as it eliminates the need to rely on specific compounds and offers manufacturers greater freedom in their production processes.
“We want to give manufacturers the freedom to choose the polymer they want to use to build the cable sheath and, at the same time, take advantage of the benefits of our masterbatch,” highlighted Manuel Miret, Area Manager & New Product Developer at Delta Tecnic. “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 drastically reduced, degrading in months or a few 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 significantly extend its durability, ensuring greater cable safety and efficiency. In addition, the design of these masterbatches also includes antioxidants.
Delta Tecnic has designed masterbatches in black and gray colors that comply with antitracking standards. In Latin America, where these cables are usually installed aerially, the gray color is preferred for aesthetic reasons and visual integration into the environment. Aware of these particularities, the company has designed solutions adapted to different geographical needs, allowing manufacturers to meet the requirements of each market without compromising performance.
A key solution for fiber optic cables and electronics
In addition to their application in medium voltage cables, Delta Tecnic's masterbatches have also proven their effectiveness in the protection of fiber optic cables, a key technology for modern telecommunications. Like electrical cables, fiber optic cables are exposed to adverse environmental conditions that can affect their performance, and Delta Tecnic's solution represents a significant advance in their protection.
In a context of increasing investment in energy infrastructure across the globe, Delta Tecnic's commitment to quality, flexibility and sustainability is contributing to the construction of safer and more efficient power grids. The company continues to focus on research and development to deliver innovative solutions that drive industry progress.