The aging mechanisms of chalking service-aged silicone rubber insulators

• Published in: 2016 IEEE International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application (ICHVE) pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Tianhua Li, Kai Zhou, Di Yang, Wenbiao Tao, Zelong Chen
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Absorption; Aging; Chalking; Hydrophobicity; Infrared spectrum (IR); Microstructure; Rubber; Scanning electron microscope (SEM); Scanning electron microscopy; Service-aged; Silicone rubber insulator
• DOI: 10.1109/ICHVE.2016.7800787

To evaluate the insulation condition of service-aged silicone rubber insulators in grids, the hydrophobicity, infrared spectrum (IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) of service-aged chalking and no chalking silicone rubber insulators are measured. The results show that chalking service-aged silicone rubber insulators have greater hydrophobicity than no chalking silicone rubber insulators. Microstructure changes of the silicone rubber insulators were respectively analyzed by infrared spectrum (IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The IR results show that service-aged chalking silicone rubber insulators have greater main-chain fragmentation and methyl-group loss than no chalking silicone rubber insulators. Meanwhile, the IR resultants of chalking insulators aged under AC or DC voltages are similar. The SEM results show similar microstructure of chalking insulators. The aging mechanisms between chalking composite insulators under AC or DC voltages are similar, which lead to the same surface topography of service-aged silicone rubber insulators. Therefore, even though service-aged rubber insulators were aged under different voltages, there are similar IR and SEM results. They both have the microstructure changes on the surface, because of the mobility of silicone molecules, the service-aged chalking silicone rubber insulators still can keep good hydrophobic.