Thermal Imaging – Greening or Verdigris

Cable Greening, known scientifically as Verdigris (or plasticiser leakage), is a severe and often hidden electrical hazard. This bright greenish-blue patina of copper carbonate (or Di-n-Octyl Phthalate) is a tell-tale sign of degrading PVC insulation and active cable corrosion within your wiring. Infrascan provides non-invasive thermal imaging to rapidly pinpoint the exact location of this dangerous electrical resistance and fire risk before failure occurs.

Causes

PVC in your electrical cable degrades and reacts with the copper wiring. This occurs due poor manufacturing practice which resulted in a sub standard plasticiser being used. The plasticiser leaches from the insulation when warm, and then reacts with copper and producing a tacky green substance.

Overheating

High temperatures from consistent circuit overloading or poor/loose connections drastically speed up the insulation decomposition process.

​Sub-Standard PVC Plasticiser

The primary cause is poor manufacturing practice where a sub-standard plasticiser leaches out when warm, reacting with the copper to create the sticky green substance.

System Age & Grade

Older cables, particularly those of cheaper PVC grades, are highly susceptible to premature plasticiser leakage and corrosion.

The Silent Threat: What Verdigris Does to Your Electrical System
Poor Conductor: Verdigris significantly increases electrical resistance, leading to inefficient current flow and dangerous overheating.
Corrosion & Failure: It accelerates corrosion, weakening the structural integrity of the copper conductors and leading to premature cable failure.
Insulation Degradation: Chemical reactions degrade the surrounding PVC insulation, greatly increasing the risk of short circuits and electrical fire or major equipment malfunction.

Why Thermal Imaging is Essential

Because Verdigris is a poor conductor, its presence causes localized resistance, which generates excess heat. Our advanced thermal cameras accurately detect these specific temperature anomalies within switchboards, terminations, and walls, allowing for precise, non-destructive fault location. You receive fully radiometric images and a report identifying faults invisible to the naked eye.

Immediate Rewiring

The most strongly recommended solution is to immediately re-wire the affected area to eliminate the faulty cable and prevent recurrence.

Safe Removal

The substance can be carefully removed with a rag soaked in a petroleum- or alcohol-based solvent to clean terminations, but this does not fix the underlying PVC issue.

Professional Audit

Schedule a full electrical safety audit to check all similar-aged cabling in your facility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is cable greening (Verdigris) truly a fire hazard?
Yes, absolutely. The green residue causes high electrical resistance at connection points. This resistance generates dangerous heat and overheating, which can rapidly ignite surrounding insulation and materials, leading directly to a serious electrical fire. Immediate inspection and remediation are critical.
What is the best solution when I find green goo (Verdigris) in my power outlet?
It is strongly recommended that the affected circuit be immediately isolated and the entire affected area be re-wired by a licensed electrician. While the substance can be cleaned with an alcohol or petroleum-based solvent, cleaning does not fix the underlying issue of degraded PVC insulation, which must be replaced.
Can a Thermal Imaging survey identify Greening hidden inside my walls?
Yes. Thermal imaging excels at detecting the heat signature caused by the electrical resistance of the green corrosion. Even when the Verdigris is hidden inside walls, our technology can pinpoint the exact high-temperature anomaly, guiding the electrician to the precise point of failure without unnecessary demolition.

Same Day Service Available

Is your facility audit urgent? Is your Insurance about to expire? Call Infrascan for a competitive quote on the spot and ask for an available Certified Thermal Technician near you to attend your premises immediately.