Experimental Techniques for Investigating the Degradation of Electrical Insulation. Final Report

摘要

Organic polymers, particularly polyolefins such as polyethylene, are subject to aging and degradation. The failure of polyolefins occurs by dielectric breakdown, sometimes preceded and facilitated by minute and simultaneous changes in the chemistry, physics, or mechanics of the insulation. The objective of this study is to assess the range of changes that can occur during the aging and degradation of polyolefin polymers and to evaluate existing and emerging experimental techniques for their ability to detect the sensitive changes and ultimately to predict lifetime characteristics of the materials. This report contains the formal papers given at a workshop on experimental techniques for investigating the degradation of polyolefin insulation. Based on the presentations and the deliberations of a study panel, a number of conclusions and recommendations were reached. These concern polyolefin electrical insulation and the experimental techniques most likely to be useful for detecting early changes and degradation and for predicting the life expectancy of such insulation. (ERA citation 81:025473)