Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Study of Thermal and Electrical Aging in Polyurethane

摘要

Many different polymeric insulations, such as silicons, epoxies, polyethylenes, etc., are in use. Unfortunately, these materials exhibit decreasing resistance to electrical stress with time. In order to characterize these degradation processes and to suggest materials changes that will ameliorate them, we are developing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques to look for molecular changes that occur before breakdown and which may therefore be used as a 'distant early-warning line' for impending breakdown.