Long-term Accelerated Weathering of Outdoor Silicone Rubber Insulators

Venkatesulu, B and Thomas, Joy M (2011) Long-term Accelerated Weathering of Outdoor Silicone Rubber Insulators. In: IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, 18 (2). pp. 418-424.

PDF Long.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (345kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Multistress aging/weathering of outdoor composite polymeric insulators has been a topic of interest for power transmission research community in the last few decades. This paper deals with the long-term accelerated weathering of full-scale distribution class silicone rubber composite insulators. To evaluate the long-term synergistic effect of electric stress, temperature and UV radiation on insulators, they were subjected to accelerated weathering in a specially designed multistress-aging chamber for 30,000 h. All the insulators were subjected to the same level of electrical and thermal stresses but different UV radiation levels. Chemical, physical and electrical changes due to degradation have been assessed using various techniques. It was found that there was a monotonous reduction of the content of low molecular weight (LMW) molecules with the duration of the weathering. Further, due to oxidation and weathering there is an appreciable increase in surface roughness and atomic percentage of oxygen. There is no change in the leakage current of new and aged insulators under both wet and dry conditions at the end of the aging. The results also indicate that there is no influence of UV radiation on the silicone rubber for the durations and conditions under which the studies were made.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation
Publisher:	IEEE
Additional Information:	Copyright 2011 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted.However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.
Keywords:	Outdoor insulators;polymeric insulators;silicone rubber; multistress aging;UV aging; weathering;LMW molecules; hydrophobicity
Department/Centre:	Division of Electrical Sciences > Electrical Engineering
Date Deposited:	19 Apr 2011 06:50
Last Modified:	19 Apr 2011 06:50
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/36962

Actions (login required)

View Item