Power Cable With Mechanical Support Layer

A method of manufacturing a power cable, comprising:

• a) providing a conductor,
• b) providing an insulation system including an inner semiconducting layer arranged around the conductor, an insulation layer arranged around the inner semiconducting layer, and an outer semiconducting layer arranged around the insulation layer,
• c) providing an elastic semiconductive mechanical support layer around the outer semiconducting layer,
• d) welding opposing edges of a metallic sheet arranged radially outside of the mechanical support layer longitudinally to form a metallic water blocking layer, and
• e) heating the mechanical support layer to thermally expand the mechanical support layer permanently, thereby mechanically supporting the metallic water blocking layer.