How has electrical cable technology evolved from early implementations to modern innovations, particularly in materials and performance capabilities?

Q: How has electrical cable technology evolved from early implementations to modern innovations, particularly in materials and performance capabilities?   A: The developmental journey of electrical cables spans significant material and technological advancements. Nineteenth-century iterations relied on iron conductors, which were later enhanced through copper sulfate coating to improve conductivity—a precursor to copper's eventual dominance as the standard conductive material, formalized by the 1913 International Copper Standard (IACS) establishing 100% conductivity benchmarks.   Insulation technology underwent parallel evolution: early gutta-percha—a natural latex requiring constant moisture—gave way to rubber and vulcanized bitumen by the late 1800s. The 1890s introduced mass-impregnated paper insulation for 10 kV applications, followed by armoured designs with flexible sheathing in 1906. The mid-20th century marked synthetic material breakthroughs: PVC trials in 1930s Germany, post-WWII synthetic rubbers, and polyethylene development, with PVC achieving commercial viability by the 1950s and displacing rubber in domestic wiring.   Late 20th-century innovations included irradiated cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) replacing paper insulation in medium-voltage systems during the 1970s, and 1980s optical fiber integration into overhead lines for data transmission. Concurrently, high-voltage XLPE applications expanded to 66-240 kV systems, while safety-driven advancements yielded low-smoke zero-halogen (LSZH) alternatives addressing fire toxicity concerns. These cumulative developments transformed cable technology from basic conductive systems to sophisticated engineered solutions supporting modern electrical infrastructure.