AGING INVESTIGA TION OF POL YMERIC

INSULATORS
Muhammad Amn
03 - PbD - EE - 15
A thesis submitted in partial f ulfillment of the reqllirement for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Mubammad Akbar
Department of Electrkal Eogioeering
University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, Paklstao
May 2007
PhpThesis
AGI NG INVESTIGATI ON OF POLYMERl C INSULATOR..I.)
Dr. Mubammad Akbar
by
Mubammad Amin
03 - PbD - EE - I.S
Al'l'ro\'ed by ~
=
: I < I / / _______
(Research Su r /1 Dternal El\2lIliocr)
l/
plOr. Dr. N"eem Arbab -+--\;;l+\'"1JL---=---""--=--
Dr. Abdut-R3Shid ----""7'-'----\-.......-,<---
University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, PakiSlan
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
\ ,1, greatcsl lhan_k> lO The God Almighty_ Whose prcscl1ce and bkssings bring lll .: aning,
pcacc ami hope lO 111\- li f,,_
I \\i sh ll) express m) sincere gral illlcJe lO Pror Dr. 1I3bi bll llah Jam3L Vice ChanccJ lor.
Unil' crsi ty of Engineering and Tcchnology r axila_ lle has al\\ays on
rcsearch and adval1 ccd studies in the ul1il'lTsi t\ in JI1 attempt to prolllote culture oi"
rcsearch and technological de"elopmcllL Withoul his errorts and imerest, thi s could n0t
ha" e be en possible.
J am l!rateful to m) Superv iSOL DI'. \ '!uhammad Akbar for his continuous support and
CI1COllragement. !-li s expcricnce and rescarch i,, rest in lile arca 01' Poh'l1l cric Insul all>rs
cncourageJ me 10 sckct this topie. !-li s unintcnuptcd guidance and co ntinuous help.
rather push lO for"'a rd greatl y ,sisted me in de' tit e research skills and
achie, ing lite targct.
13m gratetul lo those indi,iduals \\110 supportcd me \,hik undt'nakinl! thi s research,
c',pcci,d l' J'r"f. i\ lmwd KJlalil KllGtl . DireclN ,\ lh "ncc'J Studies. R"scarch atld
Dc,-d opll1ent for hi s un-in len uptcd cooJlerolioI1 and cncouragcll1cnt.
am al so gralefuJ ro DI'. Raj i fo r he!' ((ll1stal1t help in the COllrSC of this stud, ,
Dr. R of Chuhu l'- ni\'E:r sit , Japan l1fll\ ided guidallce lO bt't ler organil,e
researeh ",ork \\'hich is hi ghl ,. ::tppreciateu.
lhe assislJncc in the \\'ork b\ Salman .-\ mlll. :v. asir Khan am] Snif SiclJiquc Hutt '\"
e\'Cr lastins. The help of lab sWITI. Q,td ir BaksfL .-\ 11\\<11' anel ;\ bdul 'vlajccd) is
also '"r'" much appreci81ed,
Lasl bU! not he Jeast nJan" thanks are' du' 10 \I's Japan for providing samplcs I;,r
this research \\'ork,
Ths ds,c.rtm011 is ckdicatcd lo al! mcmbcr 0f my famil \ !(l!. thcir lo\e. umkrstanding.
pmicncc. at al! timcs.
SUMMARY
Tradili onai] inSlllalOrs maue of glass ancl porcc lain (ccrami c insul alOrs) llseu in pOli er
iransnll ss ion and dislributioll systems rulcd the Ill arkel till lhe inlroduelion 01' polymcrie
insulators \\'hieh hale potcnt ial to r<"place the ccral11ic in,;ulators becausc 01' li ghtll"eighl.
acsthc:tic. hydrophobic propcrtics, and superior alll i-colllalllination performance,
I-I oll'e,'er. the! jield cxpcri cncc 01' poll"lll eric insul ator, is rclati , cI,' shon which dcm3nds
that funh r sludies on the rcrfOrnlJlJCe oC these ins ulators under ac tual and simulateu
cn,'irolllllenwl c()nditions be carr icd out before lhcjr fu ll scale application on real pOller
s\'stcm::-;.
Ihis slud, eontains the pionecr li Nk carried out n poi! ll1erie insulawrs in Pakistan, The
mme ohjecti,'c of this in, 'est igat ion is 10 delermine 11011 teasibk pol\' lll cri c insulators ar
for L1se in P3kistani ell\"ironment so <1S t0 ofkr suilablc recommenclalion 10 the nati onal
ekctric company (\\'APD,-\ ) "bou\ Ihe po:;s, bk of poi, l11r ic insulators on real
TOIyard s Iha\ ncl, I11SI"a1Or lIre xp\\sed to I"b and liclu aglJ1g
Pakisl<.tni environl11emal
Ihe Jahoratory sludy addressed aging unde,. en\'iwlll11c'ntal parameters inui , 'iclll all) ;h
\\,, 11 as colkcti vely, :v1oreo,'er. lI eatltt>r C\ des, ,imulat ing Pakis\ani condi lions lIere
designecl and correspondng agi ng perlrmaoce " 'as in" stigated, lhe environmcntal
st resses ll sed in Ihe study included LV radiali n, electrie stress, 1011
pr"ssure and hUll1dity, 1'01' del aging the '3Jllpks ' \"e're in, alled al 1110 tyr ical 10catillllS
III
a ekan cn\'ironrnent as \\dl '" a hcavil v polluted industri al area 01' I-at tar
Indust rial E,l>l le_ lhe aged sarnplcs \\ere pcri odica ll y anah jed using ad\'ancc tcclmiques
such ", f IR ami SE\t H\ drophobicil\ chamctcr istics \YLTC also st udied und saJlIpks
\\ 're critic11ly cht:cked rol' <ltl: l)b, ious surltce degradarlon.
lhe imTstig; tion n:\'calcd rhar the pol)rneric inslIlators tllow a periodi c degradation
und self-restorat ioll cyck and no irrc\-ersiblc dcgradation ,1Ich as tracking or erosioo \las
ob:,;cncd. In aging. thc samples \\ere l'xposcd 10 accelerated agi ng to
represelll En actual o!" 12.67 \cars in the lit' ld. The insulators rctained thei r
characteristics throughollt th is period_
Based (\[1 wr) rcsults 01' rhis pionccring il ll -estigation \\ hi ch simuJatcd
cm irollJ11ental condi ti ons prc\ akm in f' akistan, it app nrs that poi, mcric inslIlators lllad"
ll f sil icone rubber have a bright fmure for uppl icati on on real transmi ssiol1 <lnd
dist ribllti on S\steIll S nf f' ak i,tl ll \V,\PDA. lile maller \\ill accordingly be takcn up "i th
dee ision mkcrs to build so me ne\l diwihll lioll linc, '-'cui ppcd \\ ith polYllleric inslllators
to con\ -el1 the bcnefi ts of polYI11,-,ric in',lIlniors illi O a pract ical reality.
T ABLE OF CONTENTS
S llllllll i\!' Y 11
"bk ofContents
1\ '
fntroduction
1.1 Climate uf I'akislan 2
12 EI1\ 'ironmenl 01' Spec ial COllcern 4
13 Ob.icct ;lcs 01' lhe TiJe IS 5
).j
Organi zal;Ol1 5
1.5 Rel'.: renccs 6
An Onniew of Aging 01' l'oly mcric IllSulators 8
2. 1 Introducti on
2. 1. 1 nri f histol'\' <lllcl ll'Jgc 8
2. 1. 2 Srructur 01' a cOlllposite insllJ<1llll' 9
2. 1.3 Ac!l'alltagcs or pol " meric in,ul<1tnr, 0\ er ceromc nsul ators 1 ()
:\gi ng of Polymeric IIJ
2.2.1 DegraJ31on allalCl nl\ o"" poi: 1112r i nsulator 11
2.2.2 En\ 'ironmcntal responslblo? lor ag ing 12
2.3 Dererminatiol1 01' Life Expecl3nc I' 17
2.3. J LabonllUr\ aging J 7
\
2.3.2 Fi cld aging 18
2.4 .\ging Effeets 21
2.4. I Aeecptablc aging 21
2.4.2 l ; noeeeptablc aging 2.\
2.4 3 lhc Scqll cnce 01' pol\"ll1cr aging
2.5 \kJs\.remcnt Tcchniqllcs 26
25 1 l .e<1kage Cll lTent 26
HyJrophobicit\ measuremcnl 27
25.:; Scanll ill g microscopy lSE\!) 30
2.5.4 Fouricr lrall sfornl in lf:lred (IR) spectroscop) 30
.14
.' Ellect nf Ini,iual EIl\"irorunental Pa rametc rs 011 l' ohmeric
Insula!of> 37
3.1 Inlrod llct ion .i 7
-'
o
['paiment 3S
3.21 Spt'cim>2I1 s 38
3.2.2 1: V rlldi::nions 38
3.2.3 Sal! f"g test 39
3.2,4 Temperoture test 39
.)2.5 Elkct or nitri e ,cid .+0
n.G Efreet of 10 \\ preSSllrL 40
)2 7 EITec\ nI" sunshine 40
\ I
T.2.8 Ukct oC humidi tv 41
0 1
amI DisclJssions 4 1
3 . .1.1 Vi su<:i } ObSl' fqll ions 41
3. 3.2 LV radiat ions 41
. ) . o), o) Salt lag 45
3.3.4 Lrlect oC tcmprat Ll n: 45
3.3.5 [ffeo oC nitric aci d 46
3.3. Lllect of lo,,' preSSlIrc 46
3.3.7 LlTect of Liear , un, hine 47
3.3.8 Ene'et oC humidit\ 47
3.3.9 Lire 48
3 ..\ Est ill1ation 49
3.5 C'ollc)usions
51
3 (1 Ref-renccs 52
. Effcct (lf Acidic Rain Along With Othcr En' ironl1lcnta l I'aramctcrs on Aging
(lf I'ol,vmel'ic Insulato", 54
.l]
rnt rducti on 54
Laborrltor) " Aging 55
Tes t Spccimens (\!aterial "nd Si7CS) 56
Applicd Slresses 57
ResL1lts 3nd 58
4,5.1 Visual obsen ',niol1 58
\ 11
4.52 FTIR 59
4.5..1 [ [ydrllphohiri ly
(,(i
4. 5.4 Leakage currenl 68
4. Conclusi olls 6<)
-\1 lZL'i".:rcncc's
6<)
Effcct of UV Radintiolls and Pressure 0 11 Hcavly I'Olllltcd /Lnpollllted HTV
SiR lJscd as Outdo()r lnsulation
5.1 Imrodllclion
5.2 Exp rimcntal ArrangemC\1l
5.2.1 Researc 1 design lor sllldying prCSSll re dependnc 01'
l lTV -SiR aginf
5.: Re.>ults ami Discus,io\1
5.3. 1 Visualohsen atiClI1
:5).2 lTJR
5JJ Phas e 1 and :
5 J.4 Effeet f ekctric stress on degraJ:l \ioll
5.3.5 t' \ge 1..':, mJ.tioil
5.3 .6 Pilas;: 3
5.3. 7 l'ha, ;:.j
[1\ oruphobicily
5.4. 1 1 ano 2
5.4.2 Phas.)
\ 1: I
71
71
72
7
'
J
75
75
76
76
77
77
80
81
82
85
5.4.3 Pilase 4 86
:) :)
sr:\ I 88
).5. 1 I'ilasc 3 SS
) .6 C,mc1usions 89
) . 7 Refcrences 90
6 Aging of Polymcric In,ulators in Simul:ttcJ Em' ironmcnl of Pakist un 92
6.1
(1.2
6.3
6.6
6.7
InlroduClioll
:\eed 01' Mulli-slress .'\cceleralcd l\ging
Ex pmcrllal Selll[1
T esl Speci Ill CIl S
6.'1 . 1 TYIJ of speclll 115
Tes! ProccJurc
,\ccel eralion Faetur
6.6. 1 ,,\eceIeralion faclor trcnd uscd
6.6.2 Calcul at on 01' accekralioJ1 faclor rnr eaeh rilase
Resulls d ile! J)iScll ssion
6.7. 1 VisualobSlY<ilioJl l Sllll S
6.7.2 F 1 IR T < ~ s l l l l >
6.7.3 /\bsorptioll peaks al di tferenl \\ ",'C nUl1l bers
6.8 Hydrophobic ity
6.9 sel
6.1 () Le,1knge Current :"!oni toring
J.\:
93
93
95
95
95
96
96
97
97
97
100
101
103
105
6.11 Discussion 105
6.12 e une lusi uns 106
613 107
7 field Agill g 01' Polymcric [mulators in Clean Environmcnl 01' Pakistan 1 09
7.1
7.2
/.3

7.5
76
7.7
8.
rnt l'OdUCli on
E" r er imenl
7.2.1 l he (ele! si te
7.2.2 Speci mcns (rod anel plate)
7.2.3 Speci lllcns (practical insu lalll rs)
7.2.4 ,\ppl ied ,o]tage test el urJtio!1
Result s and Di scussion (Roc1 i1nd Plle)
7.3.1 Visualoh:-;er\J,llon
7.3.2 yl aterial diagns ti c lecbniques
7.3.3 Rcsult s aIld di sc lI ssions (inslllalOS)
Se,lllning Llectroll (Rod und PlJtc)
7.4 I Scanning
11\ drophobicity (IZod and I'l at e)
75.1 Hydrophobic it \ (insulalh)
(.' Orle 1 usions
Rc!crc'I1CCS
Aging DI I'olymcric Insu laton in Indmtri'll Pnllution Environmcnt
I ntroduction
109
110
i 1 ()
112
112
113
113
113
114
118
119
120
122
123
126
127
129
129
L.\ [leri ll1cntal Setll p
X. 3 J1lCIl
8.3. 1 af sall1r''' s
8.4
R"'lIlh
84.1 FTlR results
8.12
XA.3 Lc-akage currcnt rcsults
X,S SUnll1l J ry 01" Rcsults
8.6 Discltssion
8.7 COllclusi ons
8.X R"-el"nCeS
OHrall Conclu,ions
(). 1
129
112
132
1 32
133
I J:i
'-'7
1
1:;9
141
1-12
143
144
146
C'wf/e" I Inrr Oc!/{('llUiI
Chapter 1
Introduction
Tile p(me,. S) stCll1 of Pakistan \\atcr and po"cr dt', .; loJmcnt allthority (WAPDf\) is
dwracteri/x J by ma,ior hyelropo\\"er gt' nennion in lhe north and thcrInal in tlle
:5ollth. '} o the lad ccntcrs in ti\(' central pdrt oC lile COLlrltry'. high \'oltage
transmission lincs lla' "" been crccted" 500 kV transmi ssion line' s \\"hi ch are inslIlal cd by
conventi onal porcdai n insulawrs are lI sed to lransmit power from Tarbcb hydropo\\cr
slalion in lhe norlh. 10 HLBCO in lhe sOlltb wi th a number of 500/220 kV inlennediatc
SlI bSl31 ions 10 slIpply po,ycr lo , "ariolls I03d cenlCrS" This 5(j O kV main ncl\\ork is
Sllpported by a ntunbcr 01'220 kV lines anel sllbslaliolls.
Anolll cr Ceaturc of lhe \\"APDA powcr surr1y S\"stCIll is a big rcdllcli on 01'
hydropo\\er generali on 01' almOSl -lO % in lhe \\ inter 1110111115 bCCHlISC of o\\er inflel\\s as
,,"eH as increased "'al.:r dcmall d for inigation pL" poseS" l hi, rcsults in a wide scasonal
J isparit ' 01' po" "er !l 0\\" \\hich is north (O sOLlt h in lhe peJ,. hydcl gencraliol1 scason and
soulh lO nort h ",ben hydc1 generati on is al ils minimul11" lhe operari on mainlcnancc
of \\"i\I'D'\ "'; sleadil y gro\\illg and compk\. il1\trCOnneCled pCl\\ "er nCl"'ork dCll1ands
conli nuol!S anel coorclinalcd de\"clopl11ellt \, ilh adoPlian or nc\V 1001, ancl
for monilaril1g and control. Tbis is 10 maintai n at JeaSl a nlOclcsl 1c,c1
of qua lit )" and rcli abilil\ of po\\cr sy, l 111 ( lj
WAP[)A's lransmissioo lines pass thtllUgh diffc rc nl pans al' lhe eotIntr) \\herc
metorolol!ical conditi ons '"d["'" signijjcrnt l, " lhe surround ings \\"hether deserto induslrial
or coas laL addi lionall," arke! tbe o' "erall perrorm::mcc "r tr:ltlsmission hne wjlh specifi(
referenee' 10 lhe supporting inslI lat ing structures [1["0\ iJed exclusive1 y by poreelain
...Jging Im .. ,\ Itj!iIlion (J!
Ph o Thesis. l ET TiJ..\-i/u. PaJ.:.iSliUl,
Chapli!r I IntfOdrlctiu!?
insul ators. These insulators {In: \ 'cry and un\' maintenancc is very cllll1bcrso!11c.
and ti \nc-COns ulllillg.
During past hree decudcs, lhcre is 111 Illcrcaslng interest \Vorld\\ ide to use polymeri c
in:-;U]Zltors for snn1C ob\'ioLlS ad, antagcs tlley offer ()\"'r COIl\"cnl ional porccJain nr glass
insul ator:-;. Being ll10Stl y organic in naturc hO\YCYCL lhe cll"jrOJllllcrH sensiti\'ity
ahays been a source of conccrn 01" all those decIrle lI[ilil) cOI11Jlil.nies \\"ho auopteu lhe
IXl lymeric insl lalors lechnology.
Coni'wmcd \\ ilh 1110re press ng problcl1ls such as shoJ1a ge f gcneraled pOIVCr. hean
transmission and di slribulion losscs. managemenr 01 load-shcdding ctc: Pakisran
W. \['D. \ c(luld not ini[i ll k aci,iti..:s lO ';JI1l;ne ne" lchnologies through syslemalic
rcscareh programo Considering lhe nati oll::tl nceds and othcr potcntial benefits \\'hich
[lol, lllcrie insulatnrs offer. it \Vas decidcd to condliel a sy s1tmalic Slutly 011 plymric
insula[or, \\ itb spccial tO prc" ai ling conditions in Pakistan. To\\"a rds lhat <':nd. a
sludy plan \\'as dcsigned ami .\eUl td in he fonn 01" this ?b. D dissertati on.
1.1 Climate of Pakistan [2, 3, .t I
Paki Slan encmpasses un mea from 1110untaillS in the nOl1h !O Ihe coast 01' the Arabian Se'a
in the south. giving ri se lo e.xt reme cokl in lbe InaulltJins and J \\ Brln balm)" \Vcalhr ncar
the C0351. Tbe cli matc is arid Sl,hlropical in \\ il h ullder 250 mm of Illnllul rainfall
and ".i th some of the dri est regian, recel\lng !.:ss than L) .' mm aJl Jlll ally. l'akisIan 1\
divided into ur provine..:s 1' 1Injab_ Sindh. \\ FP and Bal achistan.
Punjah prn"inc has 50111(' humid subtropicul l.:nai n and same southcrn slop'" 01" the
imalayas aTe LIndel' the innucnce oC JllonSOOl1 . Ra;ni",,]1 e,ceeds 2000 mm unnual ly' in a
C\\' pl aces . lhe soulh \\'es I11011soon ani ws from Juno 1 September \\ hcn 1110S1 rain fall
OCCUfS. T is innuenced 1:1\ Jnd in the reriod jusI befare the 1110n500n.
the a"erage tempcralurc in lhe central plJins is 35-40 "e "hich may reaeh up to 45 "e in
A.: mg /nn.'!wgelt/on nl f o/ nucric I mu]ar on 2
pi, D rhe>ls. CE r r"ri,. !'(lki\({lIl. \ "11 : OU-
Chapla! Inrr odlldlOJ1
Ih" descrt arcas, Winler lemperalme in Ibe nonhern mountains remains belo\\ freezing
poinl for se\'t'ral 1110nlhs,
Cl imalicalJ y. S;ndh ;s d;v;ded in Ihree pan" Siro (llpper pan cemered al Jacobahad).
Wi cholo (middle part cenlered al [[vderabad). and I.ar (Imver pan centered al Karachi),
lile tllennaJ equator passe, Ihrough upper Sindh, lhe highcSl lemperalure cver rceordecl
lhere VI as 53 "C (in 1919), lhe air is generall} very dr)', [n "inter. frosl occurrencc is
quite common, [n central Sindh. average speed of mo",oon \vind is 18 kl11/1lf in June, Dr\
11llt da)'s and eonl nights characterize Sllmmcr in Sindh, "[axil11ut11 tcmpcraturc rcaehcs
43-44 'e. LCl\\'cr Sindh has dal11per anti humid I11aritil11e climate affeeted by the south-
\\cstem \\ inds in S1II11lner and north-eastern \\ inds in \\i nt er and "ith lo"er rainfa[1 than
ccntrz1 Sindh. lhe maximul11 tcmpcrmurc rcaches about 35-.38 :C. In the Kithara range (1t
2,000 m and bigbcr on the Gorakhn31h and olher pcab in Daelll di,tricl. lcmperatllrc ncar
li-eezing pninl has becn rccordcd and brie f ,no\\' -fall " Iso lakcs place in winler.
In [l alol'i1i sI3n, ver)' cold \l inter and hOI sunUller charactcr; c Ihe elimale oC lhc lIppcr
highl ands, Winter of lhe lo\\cr highlimds \ ar\ I'rom c..trcmeJ, coId in the nonbcTn
di strie ls to mild condilions cl oser to Ihe ]\!ak.t'aJ1 Summer is 110t amI dry, especial Iv
Ihe arid zunes f Chaghai and Kharan di striclS, [' he plain alTas are also very hot in
SUIl1111er \\ ilh lemperalllres rising as as 50 oc. \\ inter is mil d un the plains \\ ith lhe
IClll perJlUrc never i'alling bekl\\ Ihe rree7ing poinl. The de,;ert climale is characleri/cd b,
hOl ane! \ -eJ' \ arid conditions,
l he cli mate of l\'onh- \Ves Fronier PW\'iIKi' \' aHeS iml11ens"I " Thc north, cOl11prising
Chinal di stricl. has a Iypicall y continenlal Slcppe cJilllJle. \\ilh average <lnnllal
prcci pi lation ranging from 100 111111 P r \'edr in he fiu' nortll 10 384 mm in Drosh in the
soul h, \l OSI of his precipil alion fr<!111 frCl ntJ I c[oud-hands uuring "inter and hea\)'
Ihundcrslorrns in lhe spring, Oi" Chilral '" a\ erugt: 420 mm ut' rainEIlI per year. 350 111111
Llils frol11 Dcccl11bcr lO "1,1\, At high elc\ 'at ions in the Hindukush, snowfiIlI can be l11uch
bca\' ier han tlci s and conscqucnll )' large glaciers <l promincnt k at ure 01' lhe landscapt',
TCl11 perature in the vallcys \' aries from 30 ce in Jll " 10 as 1,,,\ a, O 0(' in January,
Agmg !n\"esl/galwlI 01 PO(YJ)J ef(c hHu!cuor!J
Fh D Ct.f Tilx(a. Pak.ISILm .\ /0\" _"t OO-
Chapler Inlroducti vn
Further south, in the dislricts of Dir, Swat and Hazara Division, the climate becomes
more typica! of the Indiau subconti nent, aIthough a considerable proportion of lhe annual
precipitation stiU comes fmm frontal cloud-bands during tbe winter months. Dir and
Hazara districts are sorne of tbe wettest places in Pakistan; annual rainfall at Dir average s
1473 mm. of which 400 mm falls during lhe summer monsoon from July to September
and twice that amount during the winter rainy season from December to Apri l. At
Abbottabad further easl, tbe annual rainfalI averages aboul 11 93 mm, but as much as 635
mm falls during tbe soutb-west monSOOll. In Swat, rather more sheltered, the annual
rainfall averages around 838 mm, with about 432 mm expected between June and
Septembcr. A similar climale to tha! of Or, though drier, prevails in a small area around
Parachinar in !he Federal !y Administered Tribal Areas.
1.2 Environment of special concero
The present study is being undertaken to estabJish how feasible il is to adopt rhe
technology of polymeric insulalors in Pakistan. Intemational experience has revealed that
these insulators age more significantJy due to ultravio!et radiation (UV) and solar
irradiarion. The UV radiation constirutes the non-visible part of spectrum which ranges
from 100 nm to 400 nm as shown in Fig. J. J. UV radiations are mainly responsible for
deterioration of polymeric materials. Exposure [O UV radiations results in a deterioration
of the physical structures of the surface of the materia! whi ch usually appears in the torrn
of chalking on !he surface [5, 6] .
.:.. I-' . U rrr :1 1'.:1 "1 n",
1+---' I '\'. JII L II--.. _ _ __ '. 1-. 1 11 1 ----+-- - - J"'. IH \ ;( l l ' - _ .
I .. t'\
rig. 1.1 Solar spcctrum.
Aging IlIveJlig alion 01 Polymeric Itrslllal 01'!i
Ph. D Thesis. VET TlIXila. Pak/sIGII. Muy 2007
4
lhe sol ar i TTadi ati ol1 i::- the racliation cnergy incidellt O\\.T a spcc illc area for;j givcn
of lrnt:. JI i$ exprcsscd clher in \Vs/ m
2
Joul dn/ or \'CI"\" otlen in I.angle: (l.)").
1 Ly = 1 cal 'un
1
= 4. J 84 :< 10' Joule/m"-
Awrage sol ar radialion in Paki stan in kL; (kcal/c n/lycar) = 180 kLy
. . .. . 4. I B4 x 10 ' , I SO , I 000
,\\'erage soJar raclm\ion densJl\ In Paklsran = = 23.8 mlV/cl11
- J 65 x x 60 x 60
l'V radi alions are 4.6 % orIlle solar speOrl!m .
.\ \wage CV radial on delbily in Pakislan= 4.6 'X, of 23.Sm \\ "C1111 i .098 m W /cm
2
1.3 Objcctives of the thesis
The prcscnt in\'csligat ion focuses on aging performHI1Ce 01" poi; meric insulalors lll rough
laboraron' simulations as ",ell a, liel d ro predicr lbeir Ji fe expecWncy in typical
I'aki stan i en\i ronment. Tbe ullilll ak ai m io; 1" offcr concrel recommendati ons 10 nati onal
II Ii1i ,y (\\" .. \I'D:\) ror pOlcnli al use or pol, meric ins ul ator, on real
dlsrribmion "nd trall sllli ssion Ilt\\orks.
1.4 Thesis O"ganization
The presenl re,earc h \\as plallncd and e.\ccu\ed in i.\ 111Jllnef lO achie\"C lhe proiccl
objecril'es elTectivel y. A detailed lierature re \ ie\\ \\S c31Tied oul la summnze
internatianal rcsearch e\perience 011 lhe subject of polYJ1lric insul3!or ami to identi!",.
areas \\ he!"" fu t1hcr \\'ork is required. Charler 2 01" this thesi s dcals \Vilh stat e
vf lhe arl li leraturc re de\\". \\"hcrein Ihe agi ng oi pnl, meric ami their li!"t'
C.\pCClaIlC \ in diversc CI1I ironmental condilinns are identijieJ a, the arcas \\ bere
research is being pursuccl imcrnationalh .
. \ccordingl \. in chapler 3 an ancmpl has be n maJe In sttld,. agi ng beha\'inr of"polYllleric
illsulators "'hile simlllating prc\'ailing Paki,lan; en' ironmental par:ullclers individ uall\' in
a controlled laboratory condilions. Thc sruJi"d inclllde UV radiati,.lIl.
Agmg Inre...;ugilllmr nf h1\/dCJ'(Jrl 5
pI D Thes, lET Taxila. Pakisfan. .\/m' ] {jI/-
Chapler I Inl roo'/(c! /( Ji7
temperature, hllmidity, low-pressure. nitric acid ami ekctri c stress. Variolls tool s ano
techni quc5 "mp lo'ccl to lInlkrstilnd <lglllg are aho dcscribcd anu uisclIsseu in this chapl cr.
Chaplr . describes lhe rescarch \\ork \\hcrcin lhe \\calhT cydc Cor capilal eil' ,
IslamabJd il Jld slIrroundings along "ilh "c idi e rin \\ as simlllalcd in lbe laboralory ano its
effeet on the aging performance of pol;-mcr insul ators was stll died and anal yzcd lIslng
charuclerization techniqllcs like ElI R, sr:V1 ele.
Chapter 5 lkals ",ilh a ne" aspeel sludicd fr sl time ('e L I lere. 10 sillllllale high-'ol lage
Iranslllissioll line passi ng lhrollgh high,alli lllde 111011nwinous regions in PakislUn, the
(Jf prcssuJc \Vas in' esligated along "ilb other aging piUa.llleters. Keeping olber
parall1ct"rs unchanged. the "ffeel of 011 o" polYl1leric inslIlalor " as
sl udicd Jnd cri li cally anal'zed.
Chapler 6 gives Ihe Olllcome o" Ihe re'iearch work inH.1 h ing mulli-slress aging ,,herein
he aClual licld cnvironJ11enl o" I' akislan ha$ bern simulated sil1l ult aneously in order lO
aeeess Ihe rclibi lity 0(" polymeric insulators lor pracllca l LI S,' in Ihe prevaiJing Iypie al
envimmnem. In addition to labor310r, simuJatiOJl slud". lhe po l)"merie insulalors "cre
also exposed al t\Vo oUldoor I"SI sta\ons. '1 he chosen uuluoor siles represe nI l
area 3nd Ihe induslrial cn,- ironmenL Chaplcr 7 accordingly describes lhe
rcslIl ls of aging study in Ihe clc,m en' irolunenl. " hile chapler 8 is dC"Oled lO discus,; lhe
intluellce of indus tria l Plllllllion CIll aging.
rhe outcOnle ol' cnt re \\ ork becn sunl1ll;:lrl / cd in chapter t) and arcas of
fuluro "ork are 31so id<!ll lili ' d hcr"lI.
1.5 Referenccs
[1 J A. khlar \!asood :VISe Tilesis. cmd Impleme!1l w im/ O(C:O/l//!//liIiCUli()n
Soji \wre /or W"pda SCAD, I re !werr(ace.\' , U:T T:J.\i la, Jul) 2005.
I m(!s{,'ga{IQI1 o} P O(lJ1U!flC ht\"ulmurs
PI? D The, r, . l. "El" 7xifu. Pak /.S{att, .\10.' _'{jl/-
6
Chuf la / lUroduL' I I O/1
[1 j illtp: " en. \\ i \\ iki
[3/ Il ong)..ollg Ubscrvalory. il llP::"' \\'\\'\v.\veal hcr.go\',hk':
[4 j .'\ O 13 RET.'\ 5555- Eill 'iJ'On/llel/lal '<;/Ulisl ies / 99
7
, \\ \\ ,,.adb.org/ Documcllls/
[5] C"UOT CV IVC(flheri ng, \\'\\'\\.cabOl-
curp,com/ ,.17 1 03 75 3 85256d6b0054 b8e5.S F! LEl'V%20WE!\Tf-IER!:\
Ci ,pdt'
[6 J "\\'\V' . ar pansa.gov .aw'is_ sunys.illlll spCClrun1
Agmg Im'e.\uWJ(ion o/ JlISU{(uorS 7
Ph O TJI \ {\. [ '[']" T(}x{a, Pakra11. .\ lm' ] (, f -
AI1 o\-'e1-t'\' o/ r1ging o[ Polymeric /l1suJat rm;.
Chapter 2
An overview of Aging of Polymeric Insul ators
2.1 1 ntroduction
2.1.1 Brief history and lIsage
Ccramic Insulalors (i.e. insulators rnade of glass Jl1d porcel ai n) hale been used for a long
time in pO\I'er system. Porcelaill insulators \\ere tirsl \lsed in [lo"cr transrnission
applicaons arounu 1880 [1 J. The e\olution of hese (k\iccs \\ ent rapidly rrom up-scakd
\crsion, of th e telegraph pin in,ulator, 10 whal \\ e sec' as lraditional cap-and-pin
insulators made of glass 0 1' porcel ain ane! long rod insulators maJe of pOlcelain. ThL'sc
cerarnic lnsulawrs total h' dominaIcd tbe market unti l lhe ill trouuction of composik
inSL!lators ::>].
fhe 19305 and 40s sa\\ the appearan,e 01' the llr,[ generat ion 01' org;ll1ic insulators as a
potcnrial replacement of con\'enrional ccramic insulo!ors. J 10\\ ever. these insulawrs
sufrered probJems of weather resistance, and rhcir characteris[ics \\'("re unsatistictory li)]'
ouldoor use. In lhe 1950s. epox\ resin insulators \\ ere de \ el Oj)eu bur they \Vere hea\).
su l't'ered rwm UV dcgradati on und and \\ ere never pUl inw actual service. IJ\
the llIid-1970s, a number ol' ne\\' insulating \\ cre dc\cloped. nd tbe conccpt 01'
.1 composi te structure was d\ anc:d. \\ ilh un insular or hOLIsing rnadc 01' eth\'lene
rropvlene rubber (EPR), eIbylene propy lene diene ethylene (EPDN) linkage_
poly1elrolluoro ehylene (PTFE). -ilicone ruboer (Si R) or [he li kc. amI a eore 01' fbcr-
reinforced plastic (FRP) lO Dcar the ensile load 131. dopred frolll ceramic lO
polymer insulators when OppOrlU11ity resenl ed itsdf in he fonll of li ght\\ c ight. ac>thctic
and hyorophobic materia!:;. \\ ilh superior pertormJl1ce agailhl culllalllinat ion [4J.
Agm .. Inn!.,-uga/ on 01 PuJymcric h1.wlafor,\
PJ1 D L\. e'ET T\lxila. . . \Ia:. ] wr
8
C/ap(.:r :
,i l1 Ol'Cn'';' lI' ojAging oJ PO/YOI r! l'ic Ins1f ICl IOrJ
\0\\. lhesc insulalors me eonsidcrcd as reasonably malurcd products. 11 is eSlimaled lhal
in lhe lale 19\) 0's. l: .S. rO SI insulator markel \Vas domi nanlly held by composi lc pOSl
insul alOr hy el proportion of 3'4 and al the same linK composile rod insul alor hdd a
proporl ion ni" 1/3 in lhe rod insublor markel. A Iale nineti es sUI'\'ey conducted by lh,'
\ on-ceramic (composile) lnsulmors Tcchni cal Commillcc . .Iapan sho\\5 an increasing
lrend \\' orl d\\'ide 0 11 lhe use of non-eeralll ic insul alors. In China. il is estimaled lha! nearly
600.000 cOlll posite insu lators ha\c bccn install ed by lhe end 01' 1998 15 j.
2.1.2 Structure of a composite ins ul ator
a composill' insulator comprises of a coreo cnd- fi tt ings. and a rll bher ins ulali ng
housing. l he core is of fi ber-rcinforccd plastic (rRPl to disili bute the te nsil e load.
reinforcing fi bers used in fi bcr- r"i nforced plasti c ( ERP) are glass CE 0 1' ECR) and epoxy
resin is ll sed ror the mat rix. End-fi tt ings that transll1it tension ro lhe cable and IO\yers
are of forg,ed Slee !. l11l lleahlc caSI iml L alll rn inul11. ctc. The rubber hOllsing pn,\ideS
e1ectrical insulati on and r rotects hl' ' ZP fro m lhe el1\ironmel11 1:; l. Fig. 2.1 sho\\ s lhe
cro' s-scctio!1 of a modrn insu lator.
\\hth" '",ds 1

f L
lA
F
-
I

. gm1{ } 1'I;eslig al lOlI q! P O! l, m t!fl L' mula/un
PI D The,\. '- El' Tuxtlu, ,\ I a,rl!)!) -
-
'/,.L... ,.........,
Conl"Od
(Sn'el1.';t1t nu:ml
j
\= .........
1
i
i

Eno! ti ttin;: J
9
C/rapte}' 2 An o\,() rl'iell' oIAging o/ Polymeric
2.1.3 Advantages of polyrne ric ins uJators over ccrarnic insulators
f he: adl 'anlages 0 1' polymers OIB cerami cs are [81:
<1) 90 % weight rcducti on.
h) Reduced breakage.
e) Lo\\n installati ol1 costs,
d) Acsthclicull) more plasing,
.... lmproved resistance to vandalismo
f) Impro"cd handling 01" shock loads.
,,) !mpro,cd pClIIer fi'cqucnc\ insulation, and
h) Illlpro, 'ed ant i-contamination
2.2 Aging of Polymeric Insulators
,'\ n import ant facto r lhal must be in lhe o pcrati on 01' power syslems "ilh
composite insulalors is lhe possible , 'ariarioll in el cl rical and meehanical slrenglh \\ilh
(ime: tUldn Ihe <lppli ed slresses. due \O a calkd agi ng, ;\ging refers lo lhe
ruiucli on in p..:rConnance 3nd is caused b) exposur<: lO a l11ulti lude o[ cncountcrcd
Slresses, \Vemhering (Lxposure to L' \' io sunlighl. m"isture , humid ily. lempcralllre, Cle, ).
l11e:chanical loads, und electr ical di scharges in rhe lorm 01' corona or smenee diseharge:s
amorlg be more imporlant Slre,s"s responsihk ror aging, rhese Sl resscs also haH: a
"ncrgislic " ffcet halmay haslenlhe degradatloll 17J,
Inorgani c poredain and glass ha" c been thought (Ir as illel1 materials ",hose flropc rtics
are time inyarianl [71. Uecallse i n porcelain, lhe slr{)ng ionie bonding and closc packil1g
of Ihe alOm, Ihat const illl te ceramies sllch as silica anJ :;ilicales yicld slrllelurcs lha tend
,0 be ,"cry sl:lblc a nd nOIl!cncrall " degraded by em ironmenl al sU'esse, 141, While lhis is
nol emi re l,' truc, Ihe conscr,""li, 'e design approach used i, adequate 10 CIl SurC acceplable
in- st.'J'v icc [7 J.
fl gmg uf Polyn1 ffric
Ph D The\/.\ , { 'ET { (,Ixila. POkH!N .. \/cn20I} -
10
An O\'rtT;(;, W ol Aging vI PulymC!r;c [nsu/alors
Of he tIlO desireu c1cctrical and mechanical fllne tions of a compos ite inslIlator. it has
sholl n that if propcrly designcd ano compl etely protected 11'0111 nalurc. the
lllcchanical slrenglh of lhe fiber glass eore ",il! not diminish to be of anO' conccrn, It ha,
been \\e11 that if the applied stress is bdo\\ the "damage limil", the gla"
riber.s \\'ill not break 3nel therc \\ ill be no reuucti oI1 in the mcchanical strength, lhe nlaln
concern is long t(' rm e1ectrical performance. \\ hieh i, primarr ly rdateu lo lhe insulator
\\calhershed and ilS des ign, ,.\gng (lf the \\eathershcu materi al can reduce lhe abil ity 01'
lhe inSlllalor lO hold the sen ice \'()Iwgc as eompareo to he ne\\' in$lIlat or. thercby leading
to fl ashowr at lhe servicc vollagc: and also degrade the malerial by tracki ng
and or erosiono Tracking can cause a flashovcr. nnd erosion if signifi calll can Icad lO
exposure of Ihe ti ber gla,;s eore LO lhe ell \'i ronmClll , al \\'hich poin l. lhe insulator coulo be
expected lO fail rel alively soon 171. So result anlly lhere are 1\\0 aspects, i,c, sllrfacc
flasho\'cr and the surface uegradation thal dictate Ihe O\ 'erall elcelrieal performance of a
pol ymcric insulalor. These t\\O aspect s ma) or may not be dependent on caeh olhe!'.
SCr\ice expericnee has sh!", n lha! flasho \'crs on eOll1po, ite insulator can oecur 11 ilhollt
signi ficanl degradalion or crosion) ,u1d in cases. insulator erosion has
occurrecl wilhout lending lo a n<lsho\ e 17l ,
2.2. 1 Degradation anatomy of a polymer insulator
l be slrllClure 01' a polymer;c maleri al. ,uch as bond, anu long chain mobilit\
inl erenl advanl age's H!l\\c\er. po" mer, h \'e \\ ionic bonos in conlrasl lU
co\' alent bonds in ceral11ic. \\'hic h mcan5 that poil l11er' can be agcd and ",eakened b\
n1111tiple 5tresses \.'J1cotlntered in ;;el'\ iC, Conlinllnm sen 'ice Slress can Jead lo
dctcriorJli on uf lhe slIrL1cc propcrlieS such as los5 Qf h,clrophobie il y. cl iscoloral ion.
chalking and cracking as has been encountcreel in lh" ldel lest , iles and in lab. \\'hen
rhe SlrC5SCS () \'l'r\\' hdll1 or the se"';r<: con aminat ion uominaks. lhe
maler ial st3rlS degr<l ding [4]
Tile mOSI importanl properties 01' poi, mers reslIll ron, lheir high molecular \\ cights,
.{ gmg bn-csIlgalOjJ uf Po/yme/'i c tl/Ji/lafors
f' h D Thl' {i'i, CET Tu.xi/ a, PakisraJt.
11
Chaplr.:r ] An u'\.' f;.' Y\'it"l t-' of Aging oJ Polymeric Insu!Cllon
Their strengt h reslI lt s from lhe entanglemcnt oC the polymer chains. Degraclali()n of a
polymer is attri bllted 10 Ihe brdkdo'Vl1 01" macro-moJcclllcs causing rcduclion in
molecular \\'eigh1. This hreakdO\\ll can be call sed by va ri ous cl1 vironrnenl;J slleh
as heaL lig)ll and hlll11idily. :vloislurc in il s \ arioll s lorms. L. \' rad ial ion and oxygen al""
SOll1e of lhe major cOlllribuling Clors lo\\-"ards lhe dcgradation of"lhe Jlolvnwr surfacc. In
lhe absence of ligh!. mOSl pol\"l11 crs ar Slable l'or \u\ long peri ods m ambictlt
lempermure$. Photo-oxidat ioll lcads lO chain sc issioll of hydrophobic mClhyl groups
lending lO prodll cti on of aldl' h\ d-'. kctoncs and cmhoxylic cids along Or al lhe end 01"
polyll1er chains. The brcakdo\\ n Ola)" he comparat ively mi Id affect ing only si de groups (lI"
it be uf nature. ci.lUsi ng rcduction in 1h('. :;izc 01' J1 1acro-mol ecuks. Considerj ng
thal e\cn the si de sci ssioll per Jllol ecule in a mer Wilh a molecular weighl 01"
100.000 deslroys il, lechnical useful n ss: the practi cal signif icance 01" lhe polymcr
brcakdo\\ ll CaJlllot be o\ cr-cmphasized [41.
The eJcctrical. ph}sical ilnd chemical propen ies oC Ihe surlce of lhe polymeric insulawr
crilical lO lhe reli ahle per formance of the insul alor throughoul il S scrvice life. Long-
tenn cxposure oC lhe poi: l11eric lO '11\ironmenlal and operati onal stres'l' S
causes se\"cral chJnges in the composition ancJ surtace morpholog\ and lhercb: [Tec leu
thcir waler ,epellency charaClcri stics. These Ch,UlgC' ot;cur l\ picallv at a fe,," lOp mone)-
layers r 41
2,2.2 Environmental factors es ponsiblc for agi ng
I' olymcric insulators agc difICrcntly dcpcnding (\ 11 ;hernist, y of lhe s!lec! malerial
(whi ch ma\ var}" from manufaclurer tCl l11anUfaClur r) :md lhe cllvironment \\"here
c.'posecJ [8 1. lhe faclors \\hich cont ribut e 10 aging art eJcclrical al1llmcclwnical Slrcsses
dominalll ly lhe cnvirol1 mc' lll consisting Qf' preSSllrc, moi slllfc, LV
radial on. comami nation and chemi cals el c. 0 11 lhe applicalion ami locati on
\\"hefe installed. onc 01' oC factors may be Jctlng l l)gelhcr lO cause agng. lile
influence 01' each hlctor is diseussed belu\\' .
Agi'g 1m o! \' fl g u/,:Of7 o[ p(J/ymeric
Ph D Thf! \ is CET Taxi/a. Paki,\ !(m,
12
a) Effect of ultraviolet light
Ultral'iolel ligll l is one of lhe maj or factor, rcspoll si hl e 101' degradation of
polllll cric insulators, :vlain sourees 01' ult ral'iolet li ght are: , UI1, corona [(lrmalion and dr, -
h::lI1cl arci ng activili es on insulalor surface, encrg, ' frul1l SlI l1l ighl lhal is dcslruclilc 10
polyrners is bctll ccn 320 und 270 nm, I' his desl ruClilc cl1crg, cllnslilutcs less than IlI'c
percent 01' Ihe total radiation reaching the surCace 01' the plane!. The absorption 01' Ihis L'V
radiation results in mechanical and chemical dcgradati on 01' the polymer structurc IIhich
can affeel Ihe diclccnic ane! IIcalhering propeni es of Ihat polymer. The rale at \\hich the
degradat ion occurs dcpends on Ile inlensill ami 11'31'elength of lhe radiat ion, Thcsc
faclOr s 1m) 1'1 ith scason, elel'i1Iion, lati tude :lI1d the \i11\": o' lh;:: da) 191,
fhe degrading 01' these radialions are accekrated funher il' there is 1ll0istllre on the
poJymcr' s surface, 11 lhercfore, suggeSI$ thar polymer compollnds for use in outdoor
shoul d be clal uatcd in the cOl11bi ned presence of LV radi ation and high
hllmi di ty [9], The dTccts 01' UV radiation on a poi , mer inc\ude: crazlng, chalkin! r
crac' king of the sl11' facc, discoloratioll and luS> of h, drnphohic it, 19 I
b) (',,/'Ona etlect 181
Corona discharges occur 011 the surface I hen elcctri c fic ld inl ensity exceeds lhe
bre8kdoll'!1 strengt h 01' air IIhich is around ,lO k" cm, ,\ll1losph<: ric conditi ons lI' hic h
aCfeet corona gcncrati on are ai r- densil \ and humidit: , The gcol1lctry ul' insulator ilsdl'
has a rule in the initialion of corona ;ctj l il" '['he 'o,,<mOl gen 'rates ult raviolct ligh\. heat,
3nd gaseous byprodll cts (O/Oll e, ,\0
1
) [SI,
The corona dischargcs subjecl the insulatr lO sen:rc cloctrieal straill s ami chcmical
degradatiOll , Contilllled degrada\()1l l1li" the pol ylller ultimately un-llsablc, ,,\
pol,-meric illsulJtor muSl hal'e lhe righl chCI1l;slr:' lO be hlc lO 11 i\hslal1d tllis chcmical
degradat iO;1 througholll it s sen 'ice li;"lim" Thc ol hr undcsi r"ble effects of corona are
-lgll1 ... of POIXmt!ffr.:
I'h D T/.,js, CF.T Toxila, I' ak;on ,\!m'2nQ-
13
Chap(f!r y
noise generati on. TVI. RI. o!.One general ion and Ihe loss nf energy 181, When corona
generat iol1 c(urs on a wet surfacc. it in "\\'etting corona activity". \Velting enrOlla
aeli\ il) is Ihe Olllcome of a non-uniform wetling cnusing hi gh c1ectric field. This aelivil\'
d-=penJs un Ihe I\pe and magnilude 01' wett ing as \\ ell as on lhe imensil)" 01' sllrfaee
el eel lic tickl. l he magnilude of \\cning depends 011 Ihe surhlcc characterisli es
(hydrophobie or hydrophi li c) and on lhe l)' pe 01' wctl ing whether il is prodw.:ecl b) rain.
misl , fog (J I' eOllllensati on, :'vlagnitudc of surfaee elcetrie fidd depends upon the
dimens ion ni' grading ringo it , ]Josition. li\c-end hard\\ares and cnd fittings lXJ, \Vctling
corona aeti \ itv oeeU1S mainl:- al li\c ilnd ground Imnin:lls. 1. 00vcr hydmphobi <:it y makes
dischnrge 'Cl ivil\ more likely. Besides lhe uudesirabk c1TcCl disctlssed earli cr. corona in
the presence of waler genermes nitrie acid (:--:01-+1 , 0 - II '(Ch) \\ hieh may cause surface
[Il J.
e) Bio-eontarnination
l:lio-con18mination means lhe colonizalion of the 01' an insulator by micro-
organi sms in the 101'111 of so called bio-tilms. 1\ bi() -till ll CC>!1SiS1S or micro-organisms
elllbcdded in a highl y-hydr3ted 111 "lri" oC eXlr<t- cellubr pol\ l1lcr ic subslances (EPS).
mainly pol\'sacch:Jri des ;lnd proleil\;. The invo hcd are tngi. :Jlgac.
bacleria. prOloz.oa cte. I[lmewr. in a ma\Ure bio-1i1 1l1 , thl' !l'acli on oC living cells is olkn
small , \Vater is the l11uSt abl1l'!dant in ll1os1 b,, - lill11, and Ihe organic ponion oC
Ihe lilm ii oflen dominateJ by Ihe EPS, In addilion. particuliltt' maller such as
corro5i on produ lS elC, can be includ.:d in lile bill -tilm [101. Whcn a bio-film is
lormed on the surfacc 01' an insulalor. il impedes lhe ing of lhe insuJator surface ilnd
tbus offer5 lhe pos.s ibil il\' oC incrcaSed insulalnr Jegrad31i on by enzymcs s"cretcJ
fungal L'onlaminants. These ckgradati n produch ,en ' "'5 nlltrienl.s (i.e, simple organic
11l 0leculcs, slIeh as carbol1 and mineral d cmel1ls) 10 gro\\th and reprodlleli on oC
'(he in\'oh'cd n1icro-organi sms.
f he primar\' orgamsms im'oh'cd in lhe degradatioll oC orgaJ1l L' matcrials are f'lIngi.
Ago}g DI Polym!I"u.: ....
Ph D Tht"t t ET Taxi/a. PakiJ/w7 . . \Ia,-]OO-
i4
CIWjJIl.: r 2
- --- - -
..ln On!nh!H ofAging ofPolymt!ric II1Sfllators
bccause algue. li chen and mOSl bacter ias lack the el1l. ymatic arsenal reqllired degrading
the comp\.:x material s that make up lf1\ulati on, Fllngal gro\\ th is mOSl often accompl is hcd
by rhe clongat ion oC micru:; cupic. tubc-s haped ct'lls calied hypilac, Thesc cclb
simulta neollsh' euloni Lc their sub;;trate \\'hile secreti ng degrading cll zyllles.
lhe hy phae (j ,e, lhe l11 ycclium) creales a looseiy \\'(l\'en mes> \\ork o\'er the s urfacc ando
to varying degrces, \\ 'it hi n the subsuatc r 11 J. The damages caused by bio-conlamination
are discus;;ed belo\\',
(i) Fouling
lhe un\\ anted dcposilion of biological matter on lhe insulalor surface is refe rred to as
fou ling bccause man)' polymcric l1lalerials are to be inen lO bio-
conlamination. Out ir the cl)lonizcd materi al degradatioll . micro-organisms can use
pollutanr$ from the surroundings lO gai n nutrit ion, l'ouling clocs no\ cllilnge the bulk
propert ies of the infcclcd m3lerial but ir the Slr raCe propert ies 01' the coloni 7. ed
Ob,iCCl [ 10 [,
(i i) Biotic dcgradation
\\' h"l1 a poi ) mer is w;ed a, a source o l1ulri ti L)Il IN hiol ogcal gro\\'th. il has to be
degraded to segrnents sma!1 :0 be transpOt1ed across the ccll mCmbral1,
Io\\'ewT. degmdation can al so he direclh initi at b) lhe production 01' dcgrading
subSlances 5uch as cnzymeS. radi cals or organic acid, h) he mi cro-organisms [1 0[.
(i ii) Odor and discoloruti on
:vlany mcro-organi sms produce pigll1enls. The, e pgm<:nt tend to diffuse imo he
matri " of' a polYll1eri c materi al. lhc srai ns prouLlced impo; s ible 10 rcmol'e b,' simple
d caning. h\ adJili on. meabolite from SOlllet imcs bccomc the source oC
odor. Ilo\\'e \'er.lhi s dO':$ no! affeer the in, ulal ing properti es Or !lle si licone rubber [1 01,
Ag/llg 1111 e.' tlgeJl irm Inw ((Ilors
PI D L ET 7"oxi/o. f aJ.. stwI. .
15
(i\) Hydratioll 311d pCllctratioll
Fungal hyphnc can penctralc Iheir SlIpporl and Iherehy cause crack s and pares in Ihe'
malerial. 1I is a kno\\'1l filCt Iha! hyphae are ahle lO create greal pressure Ihm forces th e
eelIs lhrough the material. l hi s leads to a e1 ecrease in l11cchani cal ,labilit)' 3nd ollers a
\\a\ for \\ ater 10 enter the poi) meric malLTi al. lalt er mu\ increase the elctri cal
conducti \ it\ o( un inslIlating material [10].
(\) I'rotccti oll fl'olll micro-hiological attack
To prOlect a polymeric material from mi cro-hiol ogical attack. differenl mensures C,1I1
be laken. Since the mi cro-organisms can nOl e1 igest the inorguni c parts so their gro\\ th
can he restricted to so me extcnt by making the insulawr J'011l a mixture oC hoth organic
as \\.e1l as inorganic materi al, 1121.
In general. lhe addition 01' di fferent 1\ pes of udditiws depending 011 al'fllicali on. togct her
\\ th 3n opt iminti on of the mer Jormul.lIion \\ill makc the materi al
resistant 10 bio-dcgradation. For example. adJition ,)1' the zi nchorltvdrat c
10 di fferent sil iconc rllbber formulalions has bccll obsen",tl 10 sup[l ress fUl1gal gro\\ th,
Furtl1er improvements can be obtained by additi(ll1 nI' so-cal kd hiocides. i.e. acti\ "
ingredients Ihut kili or inhibit reprod uction of micrO-Or!!3nsms 11 21
(\i) Chcmical pollutants
Slllphur-dioxide is frequently present in air thal comes Crom the guscous ",astes 01'
industries . It forms a layer of pollllliotl (rnosth cIln;lIoing sulphur) 0 11 the surface nI'
insululor tll al tinally causes tl asbO\\T 110"6 L the p"lI11tiOtl perfonn<l l1cc 01' polvl1leric
insLl lalO(S is for betler than lhal 01 ccrumie inslIlJlOf' . Oxygen is also a sourCe 01
degradal ion 01' insul ating material becausc it StlppCJr!s gro\\ tl1 o' l11icro-organi sms.
Fioally ozone & l'\Ol are prodll ced b\ the corona acti, iti cs around higb voltagc lines. Tl1e
A': P7R JI1l "esllgafion
Ph D LET Taxi/a. f aXfs/wI, .\fu.1. 10o-
16
Chap(tf;r J An uJAgi11g ofPolymerir.: { u u/(/{on
OZor1" i, deslrucli vc for all material s including insulalors, i\O.l reaelS ",ilh waler on lhe
surfaee of insulator lO fonn l-l'\O;, Ob\'iously, lhi s lcnds lo dissol"c Ihe smfnce leading il
tl1\\ards failure [121,
(\'ii) En\'ironmental stresscs
Heal, liglll and moisllIre prodllecd by cn\'ironmenl affeel dn in-scr\'iee insulalor. [-kal
& lighl produce surface cracking nnd eros ion [Ij, .'vlui slurc goes inlO lhese cracks and
fin,ilh na} cause rod failure [12J
2.3 Determination of Life Expectancy
.. \ 19X9 sun'Cv indicated Ihat 6-1 01' lhe sccond tbird gencrali ons polvll1crie
i11$\1l aIOr5 failed dlle lO materi al H 1, the life cxpcetal1C) ni
polymeri c ins ulalors is a majar COllcem 01' lhe eno users, In lhis regard. rcscarch is
continuing lO determine lhe life expectmc\ ol' poi ) meri c inslIlators by actual ficld agi ng
J.nd b} laboraron' tests sil1l ll lating actual field condJlioll::i.
2.3.1 Laboratory aging
The labormor. aging te,l , mUSI rellecI lhe tha \\ould OCClI I' in the inslIlators in-
sen 'ice 011 a long-tenn basi s [ 131, COIl\Cnti on31 aging .:SIS like sal t fog and tracking
",heel tests are short-lerm tests 3nd can nOI preulct lhe 10ng-terl1l insulatol' dcgradali on,
:Vloreo\'cr. se\'eral Slresses acling 011 inslIlawrs are dit'liclll t lO reproduce tltrollgh
these test:; and theTeforc, it is hard 10 11l0dellhe <:lId s r\ Ice \\ ""tber condilions 11 ] l.
0 11 th othe!' band, mulli-st ress aging teSIS bc\\er rreJicl rhe long-tcrm performance
01' insul ators. In faet. lhey are lIscd 10 rt'alisticall \ in\ eSligate the effeels of (11\ 'irol1l 11<o' nt
in \\ 'l1i eh irsu.lators ha ve to perlorm, These erreels indude lhose callsed by the Slrc"c,
' l1ch as lIItrm'iokt radial ion. rai n. heat. clear mi st )nd sall (Ji" In 11111Iti-slrc"" aging.
Cl rt ificial c1irnat ic conditi ons applied malching lO in-sl' r\ icc-cl1nditiolls in a prc-
Agmg o/ Imul,nur.\
Ph D 7ht'5/S. LET Tax(u, Pok.n((lI) .. \/0.\"200-
17
Chapler 2 An ovenieH' of Aging of Polymeric 1n.'iu!u{()1'.\
determined sequence' to si mu late "eatilcr cyc lcs o\"r tilc )car, '1'0 produce these
condil ions. dillcrcnI cOlll bin<l li ons oC ullr\iolet li gil .. electrical slsess, beato temperature
and moislure are made using sell si ti\ '1..' lllCaSUrClllcnt and control device), Sinct' all
condilioll s can not he' oblained from cll " ironmcnl as i11ld "bcn ll ceded. and can 11111 b
mai ll tained in open place. so multi-slress agi ng is al" 'ays elllrloyed in a chamber [131,
2.3.2 Field :lging
SOIllC 01' the fie ld agi ng studieS condll c tcd b\' \ ' 3r1011S rescarcher:;, l\ brid
description 01' the same is summar ized heteo
(a) kV insulators in a coastal cn\'jronment
In ihi s study. a dClailcd qll un\lat i\' e anal) sis 01' agi ng und de grad a li o n 01' 345
kV l:::PDyl slIspcnsioll ty pe insulalOrs ,,'as c anied OUI \\ hich \\ere re mo"" fro m
se n ' icc 11Icated in a eoastal area in :\e\\' LSA) in 1995. Initi a ll )'. Ihe )
"'ere i ntendcd lO be it1 stalled for 12 \ ears bUI \\ ere remo\'<:d after 5 ycars dllc 10
ullexpl ained olltages [1 2[.
J he insulalors sho\\ed ch;l king discolorali on ami partia l loss 01'
!l)drophobic il ) un the s i de faci ng Ihe 5UI1, The surfa ce st rllc lural changes \\crc
in detail lIsi ng ad"'\Ilc ed surCace 'lI1J I,s, tcch niqll es sllch as altenllak'd
total re tlcclio l1 Fo urier Iransforlll infrarco (;\TR-FTlR). scanning
dect ro n microscopy (S l'\!) anJ X-ni) phl1lolectron ,pect ro sco[lY (XrS), For Ihe
fir SI t im. Ihe s ign ifi cant di fferences in surfac' pro]1ertics bCl \\ Cen lhe
c halked/ disco lorcd ( \\ hik) lnd the otiler surtaces (dark) were s ludid
quantitat i\ cl\. lhe I:TlR absc1rpti on spectra SilO\\ d a signi ficanl ckcol11posilioll
01' lhe Crl -groups 01' the \\hite sur fac c. el uci daling the cffccl oi' photo-oxidali(lll
on Ihe LI'D\' po l\'Jll er, lhe SE \ I micrographs sho\\'cd lhe cracking 01' Ihe
surface. l hc' XI'S SrcCIr'! sho\\ ed Ihe rormalion (.- \'3rio us pola r cJl'boxy l grollps
Agmg I m'esugaNon 01 PO(l'l1lerlc I nsf{lmon
P] D tEr T a:cila, ,\fe)" -] V(J -
I S
and fI preSence uf high surl'ace energy cornpounds, such as siJicu, and sdieales.
This slUd) provided valuah le basic informali un 0 11 rhe changes in lhe sUfl'acc
prope rties ol' EPOiv! insulalors during sen' iee in l consta l env' irOnl11enl 11 2J,
(h) A long -term aging in San Francisco coa.,tal cnvironrncnt
The long- lerm performance and the material state (ll' polymeric insul ators
\\ re .\arnincd frorn Oeecrnhc r 1987 lo February 199 7. rbe projeer ine luded a
great numbe r o" eommerciallv' availahk polyme rie ins ulalors from se vTral
prominent manufaclurer s, Eae h IV'pe ol' insulalOr '.va s cnergizcd \Vith hi gh vollagc
aiternating curr ent (II YAC) as ,,'ell as high volt agc direct current (HYOC') 11 2J,
rhe sludy demonstralcd thal sili eone rubber (SiR) insu lators maint ain ed n high
oC initial hydrophobi citv and in lorms o f s urfac" leakage eurrenl
per!"ormed bel1e r Ihan rhe porcel ain insul ator s. he Oblained rcslllt s also sho\\'ed
that hcavi! , s tressed SiR in'; lllaiOrs \\ ilh spec ific crcepage dist anees in Ihe order
lIf g.2 mm kV 10 9._' Illm' kV had leakage currerH c:\ceed ing SO 111 / \ dur ing: a sa ll-
storm in Janua rv' 1993, Hu\\c,' er. aft'" occurrencc, the v sho\\ed rel al ively
loV\" leakag:c curren t illl pl ving thdt lhe SiR has lhe ahilily to recover il s high
sllr face resi stiv ity anel good performance, fhr lllcaSure mCl11S indicat ed Ihat at
liglll pollul ion leve!. il is possible la reJuce Ihe ercepage dislance (l f the Si R
insul atl) r cOlllparcd 10 thal 01" ilS ceralllic COllnterpart [121, Lnder se vere fi,' lu
conuitions howevcr. lhe EPO'v1 i,1,,!I ators pcrforrned \\orse bOlh in tcrrns of
kakagc current ami fla shov'er occ urrence, compared lO Ihe porcclain insul alors
\\ il lr he same elcelric Visual obscn'atiollS rCl ealcd that the slIrface oi"
mOSl oC the EPDV[ rubber insul alOfs hnd eroJed . The surface erosion incllldcd
crack ing at1d chalking due lO e\ )losllre and icakage current
'letivilv 1121. rhe material ugin g 01' the Ef'Dj\1 reSlIlled in a degracled
)1 erfor manee of the insulalOrs under conlaminakd condil ions, rhc St llUV
Agmg bln.'$ugdtrr}l1 o[ POJ) 'Jnr!rJC hl\ulworJ
Pj D {"es is. t ET Taxi/a, Pakim"' . . \/01200-
19
Chapler ] ..111 o\'eITiL' H' olAglng ofPolymeric
suggesled lhal lhe "pplicalion al' a highcr clecl ric Slre ss 10 LI'DiV! rubber
ins ulalor comp'lrcd lo lha! pres cribed lr ceramc ins ulal a rs is no! [121.
(e) ,\ging in coastal environrn('nl
The ['csearch group ol' Vlastos al Ihe e halmer s Lni'Trs ity 01' Technolog).
S"eden. conduCled lield leSI sludies oC aging anJ dcgradmi on 01' polvmcric
Insul alors al a sile loc aled in a S,vcdis h cOlhlal [lolh silicone and
EI'DM ins] a tors \\ere used. r he stud, focuse d in un c!crs landing lhe dffcrencc
oC aging 01' the s il icone and LPD\I insu lalors as \\cll as insulator designs bOlh
undcr ae an el de vo ltage appli cal ons. The su r fa ce clwngc s \Vere
qu alit ali"dy using various surfaee anah ' lical tcc hni ques [1 2J .
The work perfll nncd al lhe Allnebe rg fi eld SlatiOI1 dur ing two dccacles \\ ' il h a
pletho ra 01' inSlllal ors ener g ized ,\ ilh bot h 11 \' :\(' and H\' DC has sho\\ll thut
,ilicone ru bbe r inSllla to[s "ith .-\ l l-l-filkr pcrformcd belter t han
ceranll C ins ulato rs. !-Io\\c' er. due 10 \\ t:athering and aging uf thcir surfaccs.
EPOVI r ubber insulators enhunccd \\i lh 10\\ 11l okcui<lr \Ieight si licol1e additi,cs
\Iithou t A III-filkr sho\\ cd a gooJ h, drophohicit, d llll lo\\' kakage currenl
pe r formancc [ 61.
(d) Various other sludics
Anothcr fie lJ st ud)' in Australia It\\ ol':ed agil1g 01 killels uf 275 kV LI'[)\!
insulalors or exposure eluralion " aryi ng fro lll 18 to 3-1 lllont hs. ! Iere. lhe focus \\ as
eondilion Jl\onit oring 01' insulator using FllR o.,idat;on indexo 1t \\'as shO\vn that
cnergized enels had more oxidali,m than ltn-energ,z.:d pMtS. Detai kd X PS \\'ork was done
0n in-holl sc EPO",! sampks that "'ere 1. \' aged using wnon lamps for 4000 hours. Since
no "oltage or any other Slress \Yas applied in this stud,. he rcsult s ('(luid not be
lO a ser\' ice ci1\ jronment. The study al' non-ceramic insulator:; tropical \\cath!' r
."Igmg l m'sl lp,atinn ,,( I ns/f,fnlurs
Ph O l hesis. ( ET Taxifa. Paki,w.m .. \ ftl)' 2OfJ-
20
C_I_la-Cp_"_'r_l _ _________________ ."_ 1 uJA gill':"; uI Pulymeric IJlSU/mOTS
conditions \\'as al so carried out on 33 kV polymeric insulaLors for 2-3 years. The stud)
reponed variation ol' hydrophobicity propertics and surLlce rcsistanec. J\ 160 hr corona
aging and its efteel on the hydrophobicity \\ere done b\ Kim and bis leam using contact-
:.mgle l11easurement and surface challges llsing Sr-:M [121.
2.4 Aging Effects
A.s lbe insulalor ages. difTcrent patterns appear one after lbe other. SOl11e of these
conclitiom affeet the whole inSlllator more 01' les, uniformly. while olhers are
high lv loe al ize d in naturc. Somc forms ol' agi ng ma)' be aeeeptablc while others
can not be tol erat ed and necessitates lhe rcp l: ceme nl of insulator [14 l. These
conditiolL: M e br ierJ) cliscu"ecl.
2.4.1 Acceptabl e agin g
I' hesc are the condition s \\hi ch affec t \\hoJe in, ulator more 01' Icss uniforrnl\.
rhese co ndi t ions are unli keh lO eallse f" il ur and thefe!'"re. do nol requirc the
insulator to be replaced.
(a) Lo" of gloss and discoloration [14 1
,\ormall, . lhe fir sl cond iti on lhat Il1diC::lles lhe Og l l\g 01' insulator is loss of
gJoss and dis coloration.
(b) ChaJking 115, 16]
Chalking is tbe appearance oi' a rough ami \\ hit ish po\\dery surface gl\lng
he insulator a chalb appearancc Tbe fact ors " hich are respollsiblc fol' chalking
are ultra-\ iolet radiatiol1 and elcLlri cal acli \ il \ . When a sm311 quantity of rubhcr
.-l ging h, .... .:sti.e.afi on vj Po)ymt?ri c I nslf laloJ".\
PII D { '[1' T' 1.l; i) a. PakillOI1, .\luyO(J-
21
ChapW' 2 An o\t'JTie"\t' ofAging 01 Polymeric ln.oJiOlorS
is removed f'rom el s urfacc bCeatlSC 01' these f'ac Lor,;. the IlIle r maLerial is exposed.
lhis fill er maLcri al is a \\'hile' pO\\'Jcn' gi\'ing Lhe insulator a cha l, )
Oue negative efteel of cha lk ing ho\\e\a. is lha l il allo"s more
aCCll !1llli:llion (lf' \\'aler and conlaminal ion On lhe surfaee. Thereforc, the insulal or
\\'hich has the lcndenc) 10 develop chalking shou ld nOl be inslalled
in areas \\'here c(las tal pollulion is expericnccd. Comparcd \\ilh olher llpe uf
po lYIllr ic insul at ors. [ PR imulator, are more pronc 10 chalking.
( ) e . 11"1
e razrng _
11 is do::fined a,; Lhe lppcarallce 01' s hallo\\' cracks 011 lhe insulaLor surCace.
DepLh nf lh;:s.:: micro-fractures is k ss lhan 0.1 mm. Electrical ae Livil\ IS main l\
rcs pon,;ibk Cor crni ng.
(d) Los, of 1151
Il,drupho bicily is tbe \\tL ing propen} "I' a ruh bc r maLeria l bccause ofwhich
II resi st s forl1l nlioll of film 01' water by Corming bcads of \VaLer. Lhus cle llyillg a
ror kakagc current and associate d arci ng. l_os5 of h\d rophobieiLy re sultsin
'.he !orm3Lioll 01' lr\'drophilic surfacc. FPR insuJawrs ha\'C been maJe
h\ droplwbi c h, additi on 01' fi ller" Jik" alumina trih \ draLe. Therd'ore , the EPR
in"ll laLlHs \\ ilir hcu\'y chaJking ha\ e beCll JounJ LO lel' al 1 hyclrophobicily.
(e) AlIigator ing (dccp crac king) 115]
AIligat oring is su rface fra CLUre 0[' il deplh grCJler Ihan O. lmm. In faeL, iL is a
mor" SC\' ere form (Jf erazing . !t reduces eontuminaLi"n pcrfornlancc oC inslllalnr
and mil, ult imalcly lcad 10 rod c'\I'0S\lre .
Agll1g I m"c.5l1garon 01 !JI.,> u{alon
f1h D {ET Taxi/a. PaKi.'iftm . . Hu} l OU-
22
Chuprer ] AI1 ore/Tlt' w 01 Agillg o/ PolymC!rh.: InsulCJlfJl"s
2.4.2 Unaccrptable aging
Condit ioll s which are highly localized may cause un accepl<1hle agJl1g ieading to
01' insulators [14], These co ndit ions me summarily di s cu ssed helo\\,
(al Corona cutt ing
Til e c utting or aglng induceo by corona discha rgcs is knowll as corona
cU\1ing, These di scharges expose lhe insulators to sc \' erc electrica l a nd chemical
ocgrad ati on [ 9 1, The culting induced i, L1sually duc \O impro per honding 01'
matC'ri al and poor hard\\arc des ig no 1 he ot' darnagc incrcascs \\'ith
inc reasi ng \' oll age , Th is pilenomenoll can occur \TI} in cle an localion [141,
(b) Bol es al the junetion of shed and housi ng due to pUllelure
Disr Upli\' c eleclrica l d ischargcs nc curing lbe rubber or rod
pU\lctu rc, This [csu lts in pcrmane ll t Joss uf JieleClr ic strenglh, It is usually
caused b\ an imperfection in lhe rub ber (H ro u [15 ,26j, This phcnomcnon n1<l\'
c\en occur 111 clean 10c(\ \ iol1 , The dcgree of danlage inc re;ses \\itl increase in
\Ollagl' [14],
(el T r acking/carbonizing
Surface disc harges due 10 co rona or currcnt- induccd dry- bJl1d arcing
cause trackil1g, WitilouI d" -ba nd arcillg, leakage has no p roblcm [\4[ , lhis is un
irreversIb le d ct c ri orati on [" t he fOrtllUtio n 01' paths s!:lrti ng and dc\'c loping on
Ibe surfac of il1sulators, I' hc se trad ,s ha c \h,' app<'J rancc o f carho\l !rack,
\\hich '::1Jl 1101 be casih rCll1o\'cd and are cond\l ' li \ e c\'en \ll1der dry cOJldit io ns
[ \ 6, \ 71
Ag/llg Inn?sllg{f/tHl uJ Polyl1leric / n.wlalO, '
PI D Thi:.'sl . . , El r a nlLl. Paki ... ral1. .\.Juy'!f)( -
?'
_ .J
Chapl r!f'] An Ol'erVieH' 01 Aging o/ Poly meric Inw!alol".\
(d) Erosioll
Li kl..' is a degraclation moJe uC huusing c'-1Llsed due to
leakage curre n!. c\ifferent eurrent c\cns itics. uncvcn dr\'llCss: cnhancc ficlds
kading lO dry-band arcing activity. It is a11 irre\'ersible and non-conducting
degr<l da tion of the surface of the insulator that oeeurs by major loss of material
(t hat is more lhan mm). It signifeanlly reduces Ibe Ibiekness of lhe polymer
sheath that prevents ingrss 10 tbe core roel [16. 17]. !:rosion can be loealied.
uniforrn or tree shapeel [17]. It lS a llluch slo\\cr forlll of degradation than
tracking and nonnaJl) cloes not lead to Llure unl ess it lS sO severe that II
reac bes uT' to rod.
8\ addi ng ino rgun ic filler (e.g. alumina t rih)drat " and siiiea) to the forlllulation
impro\'c;-:, he tracking and C'rosi on r; sistance . \\"11at is not so \\'cll
kno"n is tile amount of filler nceded fol' opc ration wbieb depends on
forlllulatio!l (base--poIYlllcr. fil ler ele). Generall,-. EP (ethylenc
propyknc) ruber furJllul atio ns need s ubswnll al amo lln t elf filler in ordcr to
obtain adeq uate eroson and track ini? res istance . Aho i n rgan ie fillers contain ing
\Yater of h\urati on offer more lrac kll1g an u eros ion resis tanc than unhydraled
Il ll m [ l .jl
(e) Exposurc uf tibcr-glas., rod due lo and/o r crosiun 01' shealh
.-\ fiber-glass rocl can be eXj)osed due 10 e r<J ' i\111 or cr:lc king and tracking u!"
sil eu th besde oth cr factor.,. TlJ exposed rod is prone 10 dal11 agc (fracture) elue ro
UV radi ation degr adation. \\ ater intrusi o n and tra cb ng .
(1) Seal darmlge al cnd-fittings 11 4,26]
The seal damage incl udes liftin g o f seal s. seal erOSIOl1 ami tracking. The dal11agc
Igmf rJj f' oly meri c Ino/o.'or..:
24
PI D Tit C\,\ [ Er Taxi/a. p(lk n"an . . \Jal 200-
ChaplL'/' 2 An OH"n'-"\' 01 Aging vi Polymt"(' /J1.wlarvrs
la sea l at cnd-filtings can promott tracking 01' the rod which is not vi sible frolll
OUl si dc.
2.4.3 The sequence of polyrner agi ng
After stlld ,'ing rhe aging conditions discusscd in Ihc prcccding scuions, a nat ura l
qllestion :ises. i,c, ,,'hen lhe in sululor should be replac ed, In this contexr. sine"
limitcd da ta are available frolll the ficld which alsn Jepcnd on many factors such
as construcl ion ll1lhod, extcnt of degradalion, Iypc uf insulator and mainlenance
practices (types and f'reqllency) . '\lso, il is a valid qllcstion thar in which order
lhe se condi tions ,,"ould appcar on a ne" I,'-instull d i ns ulal.Dr, In oreler lO anSWr
lhe se qut'sl ions. the ag in g could possibl,' be cxprcsscd in the
1'011011 ing ordc r:
a) "ell' polYlll cric insul31or.
b) Loss oi' gloss and di scol oralioll .
e) Lighl chalking.
el ) Craz ing.
e J All igaloring .
f ) Sh..-ath all a' fro ln tenninah.
g) . heal h lracki ng.
h) IIdrophobicil) loss.
i) Dr\ -hand arcing .
j) Rlld
i
int erface dam.:l gt..:' ,
k) sheatb erosioll . and
1) FaiJur<:,
,!ging 'w(:'Jflgam ol Pul)'mt!rh: /t/.w{utor"
Ph D CET 7a-,,"a. ?akisfUil,
25
Clwprer J An ol'ervielL' (J./ Agmg 01 PolymeJ'ic In.W!afOrs
lhe agmg (allsee! by parameter,. (b) lO (e) ami (O ro (1) arc classificel as
acceptahle "nel unacceptable aging. respectivel) [26].
2.5 Mcasurement Techni qllcs
The aging can be dClcctcd by dilTerent mcthoels. The cxact kno" 'ledge 01" rhe dcgradari on
sra te and residual life of lhe material used in a ' Ik cifi c insul ali on can be detected b,'
foll o"ing m.:asuremcnt and diagnostic rechniqllc.
Lcakagc current measuremenL
Hydrophohicit) mcasurement.
I:ouricr transfrrn infrare d spcctroscop) (1 1llZ).
X-ral photoclectron spectroscop\' (XPS).
Secundar) ion mass spcctroscopy (SIMS).
(ias chmmatograph\ (CiC).
(id penneat ion chromarography (Grel . ,;nd
Scanning elcctron minoscopy CE\l) [18. 191.
In the t"ol lo"'ing scction. lhese rechniql1S are hric!l, disCllS$cd.
2.5.1 Leakage current
The surface electrical properlies 01" !fle in::;ularor , Dre: characterizcd by lllcasurClllcnt nf
leakag" current [20 [. Lcakagc currenl daw prm ide, In rorm3t ioll abou1 lhe surL1cc
conditi oll S which llla)' be relatcd [O degratlatioI1 prOcesses C.!,I. tracking. ilne! crosion
orrhe insulator testctl ilnd rhe inceplion oi' Ji scharge-s [21].
The general circuit usccl for leakage current I11CJSllTCtllcnt is sho\\"n in Fig. 2.2 [22[. Here .
. I nL'CJsauon 0.1 PoJymer ic I/uulo/ur.\
1''' D TlI,'''S. I ET Taxi/a. P" kislUIl .\/U1100-
26
Chapll!r .2 ..In Ol'cn'i<:'1 S' Q{Aging uf Po/ymeric In'illlmnrs
a suilahk resislor is placee! bel\\Cll insulmor and ground, This analog ,'aluc is ampliticd
and con"rlcd lO digital valuc ano storcd and di spbyce! on a computer as per requirement.
HV
Srt'cimcn
insulatot

Am pi i fi N'
f--->,
.vO

COntrutc.'
r
--.
C(U1YI','te, '
Leakagc current monit oring, whibt a usefullool rOl dClect lllg cOltdiliOl1s whcre insulalors
mi ghl be al risk or llashoveL docs nOI giw a dircl indlC<1l ion of c1wngcs in shcd surrace
condilion. as lhe magnillldc 01" the kakage CUlTenl is affeCled ) suri'acc pollution 3nd
wetting (;ond ili ons, Continuous mDnitorlng and data storag" of kaknge current is also al)
cxpensi, 'e e'(crc;sc ane! has not been "uel,' llsed [23,2(, 1.
2,5,2 Hydrophobi cit), measurement
lh'drophobi city Orn)' materi al is il S resislJn; lO 11,,,, o' lI illCr ll its surface, A material
o/ I m,ul,Jl or.1
27
PO D '/,e>l5. CEl T'LI' ila. Paki.I/wl ,\ /(.: , 200-
Clwple.r 1
is highl\ h\dWrhOhie i1' il resisrs nO\\ 01' waler dIOpped un il and is leasl hydrophohic i1'
dmpped " aler no"s in fonn of tracks on its surface, rhe intermediate between abow
lwO has speciti c contaet anglc of \\'ater on its surface \\hcre it tcnds lo now, lhe
h\drophobici ty of ,ilicone rubber material, is also mcasurcd lhrough mcasuring contact
l)1gles bet\\ een the material and waler drops on it, surface, The mosl commonly used
method is the so-called sessile drop tcehnique 118[, In this tcchnique, a water clrop is
placed on lhe surLlce using a syringe, lhe static contaet anglc is rhen mcasured manual Iv
a goniometer or in an image llSlllg a camera fitted 10 a microscope. IIowevcl'.
computeri Zd fi tting 01' theorctieallv-deri\ed drop profile$ lO collccled conlour images
,uves more accurate rcsult s, Addi tion of more water to the drop "ill result in an increa,e
of conlact angle, tlna ll)' caus ing lhe dIOp t o all\'ancc o\er lhe surface, This angle is callcd
ad\ancing eontact angle, Similarly, the angle at \\"hich the drop stans to recede during
rem(l\' al 01' water is called rceedi ng conlacl angk, The difference bet"ccn these two
J ngks dcpcnds on rararnctcr, likc: surface rougI111C", >urf;cc hlCTogl'neity, eontact tim
of surfJ.ce ano \VatcL and drop \ 011l1l1 , The sess'c drop method is applicable In
laooraton cn\'ironrncnt only it requircs gl.)od ill UTni nat ion and optirnal vie\\ of
single drops on Dat horizontal sampk; , Thi s delki enc\ for est imaling hydrophobicity oC
insll!ale>rs in the fic ld led lO the dc\ eJopment of he STRJ ll\drophohicity elassiucalion
J1)cthou.
rhe SI IZI method is a simple prl'Ccdure COI manual h (lhtaini ng a collectivc rnca,urc "f
he h\ uruphobic propcni es of sur tac<:s in ouldflor en\ lronment. Fist. lhe surlacc to be
studicd (:)0- J 00 cm') is spra\'ed \" th tap water. The obtained drop pattcrn is obsencd
Jnd mtributcd lO (lne of the se\ 'n hydrupl10hi ci ly classes, Total h hydrophohic surfaces
are denoled by He 1 ami lotal ly hy drophilic He 7, l he inlermediare classes
are dell ned by recediug angles of th majurit \ of the droplcts and ,izcs ol' ,,"etted are as,
.c\s help. th<..: cxamincr has a :)ct o( image_" oC typical wctting patterns
represenllng caeh 1lC. Ho\\ ,' \'cr. a di sad\ :ttltagc L\!' the Illthod is that the is
dcpellllent OTl human judgment. To dcal \\ ilh Ihi s probkm. digital image analysis is used
101' esti rnati ng averagc bydIOphobic propertics 01" surtaces, ,\pplication 01' such a
Agmg Il1 n:sugulIon (l PolY'Jlf!ri c fI ;;u(arvrs
PI D ET Tax/Ja. Paki.aarl .. \Iay20(r
28
procedllre \\hete compuler software inlcrprels lhe image. makes lhe examinalioll more
objeclive and incrcases ils accumey. lhe aim of lllal \\"(lrk was lO find simple
mathel11atical funclions lhm could be applicd lO digilal image; o" waler drop palterns.
indiealing he levd o[ hydrophobieil) of sur[accs. furl hcr. il , hould eorrcl ale \Virh lhe
SIRI h,druphobicily classirieati on s\steI11 and gi\c reliable resuhs ror differenl ungl rs o[
observation. LaboralOry experiments \\ere conducled on 2 mm Ihick sheets of a grey
HTV SiR. Sandblasting \\as used \l) reduce hydrophobicil, \O He7. Dislilled water \\as
sprayed onlO Ihe surCaces and digital pho\clgraphs nf h" drop pilllerns \Vere lakcn as Ihe
h\drophobic propcrties reeov-ercd. lhe salll plcs \\ere inclined al I (J o and 35 from the
horizontal. l hese inclinalions were ehosen as Ihey represel1led \vel l lypical inclinalions 01'
insulator surfaces in-service. As lhe samples rccovered. 25 images were recorded lo r eaeh
llC and eaeh angle giving more lhan 300 illlages.
In order 10 make measuremcnts comparable. all direclions <lnd distanccs belween camera.
illumination and sampJc Taking a large numbcr of photographs lo r eaeh I le
\\as imponam to reduce Ihe \ari ance of lhe reslIlls. ror Ihm pll rposc various imagc
<ll1al\,i, algorilhms were chcckeu. The final fUCl lon. ioe,l corrC'Jalil1g wi th the STRl
melhod and incJepcndcnl of small angular ditTcrcnccs. \\a, called. average ofnormalizcd
cl1trl1pic:-;" (A\.I:). 1I \\aS 0 11 hislOgr'lmS eJf he neClreSl neigh bor pixel differenec,
and " as faid y indepcndcnt of iIl urninali on inlensilv as \lelJ 3.S ol" lOIJ I gai l1 and ofrsel in
lhe camera syslem. FUrlher. il \\ as l1 0ted Ihat reliahilil, 01" imag analysis teclmiquc is
increased ir lhe imag.:s are recordcd. cnabling and use 01' olhcr
algorithms. Tokoro et al hme al so aprlied image J nalysis to sl udy h)"drophobi c
propertics of SiR using a high-speed camera c'Iuippcd ,, ilh d iligh magn illcalion lens \O
llbsen e beha\ior 01' water drops on small arcas (1.5" I :) Jllm). Smatl drops ",ere choscn
as inf1uence of gra\il,. becarne km COlllpart:J lO 0f surface free nergy. and
hus problellls associated \\ ilh varying inclinat ions (Q\lld be reduced. In another sludy.
SiR Samples \Vere illlll1erscd in disti lled \\"ter I"or differcnl ti mes to reduce hydrophobic
properti es. Images. made afler the samples had bcn cxposed ID misl 01' di ITerenl
solulions. \-Vere analyzcd wilh respecl lo SiN and shape disuibut ions oI crcalcd droplets
.-fging o} Pnlyml.!r ic Inw!ator:-
p,-": D Tht: \i.\ . l..:r:r Ta.nla, Paki ..oa/1.
29
ChUP' fff 2
[24J. It was lund thal drops 011 bighly hydrophobic surLices "ere smaller ancl more
circul ar han un less hydrophobie surfaees [12].
It is ln-SCf\lce aging thm hydrophobieity of silieollc rubber does not al\Yays
degrade, hUi afLer a cenan time and undel' ccrtain conditions it rccovers itsclf 10 SQme
extenl in many cases ancl lo large exlent in sume cases. lo cxplain this behavior. "e lleccI
to measlIrc ;:;omc other parameters such as changcs in frcquC'ncy absorption of siliconc
rubber \\ ith time eLc [12].
2.5.3 Scanning electro n microscopy (SEM)
SL\! sho\\s lhe molecular Slruclural chJnges of lhe SlIrfacc of lhe salllplc [19[. It gives
ehanges in , he surfaee Illorpholog) and lOpograph\ (3S ho\\ it looks) . the surfaee
roughne.ss. cracks. in-hol11ogcneities. it' any [25]. lhe ni" the material is seanncd
\\ ith an electro!) bcalll. The sccondan and oack- scallered deCI Tll I1S produccd are dctccted
and are uSed lO gcncrate al1 imJgc of lhe s3mple 18 J.
2.5.4 Fourier transform infrared (IR) spcctroscopy [24[
r omi er tnmsform infrared spectroscop' is d malerial a ah sis ecllJlique whieh providcs
slructural in fo rmalion (i.c. speilic mol ecul ar componcnt, and structlll"es) amI cornpound
Identiication . Bes ides qualil ati \ e measurement. ;1 can 3150 be lIscd for
measureIYlc nt. "Iostly. i1 is uscd 10 identify orgamc compounds but in some
inorganic compounds can abo be idcntificd.
111 lhis lc' cJU1lq uC. the "sample Und[' i, exposcd 1<.1 infrared radimion. The sampk
absorbs those frcquencies \\hi eh miilch " ith \ ihration frequencies of ils atoms. A dip is
obtaincd at thesc frcqucncies in lhe "i nrra-reJ speclrum". This llfra red spectrul11 is then
IllJlched \\1lh the standard CUI"V"CS stored in compllteriLed reterencc libraries lO iclcllliC,
the materi al. ,\11 these steps are explaind in clefJ.i 1 hdo \\.
Agrng (lfoly mld. l"iG I ll,! r/(I {()(, \
Ph D T/ t!\/ s. ( El T,v:i!o. Pok, isfan . . \lay.. ] (I (r
30
Chopfr:r 2 An O\'crvjc;w 01 Aging o/ Po/ymeric Il1.w/alor.'\
Infntn:tl (IR) spectrum
Infrarecl radJati on spans a secti on of thc clcctromagnctlc spcctrunl having
\\a\cnumbers from roughly 13.000 10 10 cm
l
, or \\mclcnglhs frolll 0.78 lo 10001.1111. It
is bOll nd by lhe red end of rhe \' isibl e reglOn ar high freqllcncies a.ncl lhe micro\\"a\e
region al 10\\' frL'qucncies.
IR a.bsorplion posi lions are generalh as eirha \\a\cnllmbcrs or wa,clcnglhs.
\\'a\'enumbcr defines lhe nUIllber 01" \\'a' es pe)" unil lenglh. Thus. \\a,cnllmbers are
J irectl y proportional 10 fi"equeney. as \\ 'e1 1 as lhe energy 01" lhe IR absorplion. The
\\a,enumbcr unil is cm I (reciprocal ccnri mClcr) ane! is more comJ11only used in modern
IR inslrumcnt s lhal are linear in lhe cm I scale. In cont ras!. \\ 'a\'clengrhs are in \'ersel\
proporti onal 10 frequcnci es alld lhei r assoc ialed encrgies. A.l presenl. lhe rccommended
unil of \\"J\ elenglh is um (micromelers) . bUl ,1 (lllieron) is useJ in SOJ11 e older lilcralurt!.
IR absorpli oll inCormat ion is general ly in "orm 01' a speelrlllll \\i lh
\\ av-el englh or \\ I\cnumber as Ihe x-ax is '1 nd ab;orpt ion inl ensi lV or percenl
Iransrnillanc as Ihe y-axis (Fig. 2] )
T is Ihe rati o o" radiant PO\\Cl' [ransmitled b) lhe samplc 10 Ihe rad ianl
Jlmer incidenl 0 11 Ihe sampk, i\bsorbancc (.,1) is Ih" logarilhm 10 lhe base 10 of
reciprocal of lhe Irill1Slllillancc. 1".
I
;J = lo\! . ( - )
__ .d r
Agmg I nl'i!.H/7,Ci fion 01 fo(vJ1r l!ric 1m uta/or.,
PI/. D Tlle.\'!\. l.jE.T Taxi/a, Pakistan. .\fa}2fJ
l
{7
( 1. 1 )
31
Chupler 2 An ovef'l'iew 01 Aging 01 Po/ymeric nsula/ors


D
a.'
.
" .
!t 03:
02'
01-:


1500 ,ID)
Vig. 2.3 FTIR speclrum .
IR turve interpretation
For anal ysis purpose. the FT1R curve range (4000-400 cm,l) can be divided into the
following distinct regioos:
i). 4000- 1500 cm' l; absorption bands in this rnnge are typicaUy due (o functional groups
(e.g. -OH, C=O, N-H, CH3 etc.).
Many functional groups gJve characteri st ic IR absorption al specific
narrow frequency rnnge regardless of their relationship within the
molecule. Generaliz.ed lables of the positiolIS and relali ve inlensities of
absorption bands bave been eslablished and used lo detennine the
functional groups present or absenl in a molecule.
Multiple funclional groups may absorb al one particular frequency range,
bUI a functional group often gives rise lO absorption baving multiple-
characterislics. Thus, the spectral interpretations should nOI be confined to
one or two bands and the whole spectrum should be examined.
To confinn the results, Ihey should be matched with other material
anal ysis techniques.
Aging Investiga/ion o[ Polymerlc Insularors
Ph D n,esis. VET Taxi/a. PaAislan, May2007
32
Chap/er 2 An overview of Aging of Polymeric Instlla/ors
ii), 1500-400 cm-I(fi ngee peint regi on); absorption bands in tbis region are generally
due to intra-molecular pbenomena and are hi gbly specific for each materiaL The
specificity ofthese bands a1lows computerized data searches to be peeformed
against reference libraries to identify a material
The degree of degradation oftested samples is judged based on the following:
Tbe absorption peak al \be wave number al - 1083 cm-
l
is used foe Si - O
bonds in backbone.
The absorption peak al \be wave number al - 1260 cm-! is used for Si -
e H3 bonds in side chain.
The reduction in the absorption peak ratio of Si -eH3 lo Ihat by Si -o of
the new specimen compared with the lested specimen is a good indicator
for surface deterioration caIculated as shown in Fig. 2.4.
I! .... - ( ' H)I 11', () 1-
e-Hin
"'.
fi2. 2.4 (a) FTIR Jp.e/roln (viri!in) ,
Aging lnvesfigalon uf Polymeric nsulator.'
Ph D Thesis. VET Taxila, Pakis/un. May} 007
33
Chapler 2 An ovuv!ew o/ Aging o/ Po/ymer!c /nslI/alors
~ i - CH) I (Si - O ) = 1.8212.91 = 0.625
'.
"
f ig. 2.4 (b) FfIR spectrunl showIli! calcula/ion 01 deleriora/ion (degradalion).
2.6 References
[1] J. S. T. Looms, "lnsl/lalOrs foy high I'ollages", Peter Peregrinus Ltd. UK, 1988.
[2] R. Hackam, "Ouldoor HV composite polymeric insulalors", IEEE Trans. DEL, Vol.
6. No. 5, pp. 557-585, Get. 1999.
[3] Satoshi Kobayashi, Yutaka Matsuzaki. Hiroshi Masuya, Yoshihiro AIashitani and
Ryuzo Kimata, "Developmenl of composile jl/s l/lalors for overhead fines",
Furukawa Review, No. 19. pp. 129-135, 2000.
[4 j R. Sundararnjan,Mohammad Areef. Chaipandit,NQPpom,Tim; Liu,Zhenquan:et al.,
"/n-service aging and degradalion of345 kV EPDM Iransmission Une insulalors in
a coaslal environment", IEEE Trans. DEl. Vol. 11. No. 2, pp.348-361, 2004.
[5] T. Yanming, "Approaches la aging of composile inSl/lalOrS", Proc. 6th Intemalonal
Conference on Properties and Applications ofDielectrie MateriaIs, Vol. 1, pp. 371-
374. June 2000.
Aging Inve.stigc lion 01 Polymeric insuJa/ors
Ph. D Thesis. UETTm;iJa, Pakislan, May2007
34
Chapli?;' 2 An ot.'tT\'iew ofAging o[ rnsu!aOFs
[61 T Sorq\sL \. E. Vlastos. "Ouldoor J!o/yll1eric isu/ulo!'S /ol1g-lerm eXl'oscd lO
J!llX". lEEE Transact OIlS un pCl\\ r del i Vr). V (! l. I 2. iSSU 2. pp. I 041-1 .
.\pril 1') '>7
. pp.135-142. 19%
[7J R. S. (iarur. ''Slarus assessmel1l o/ cOil/Josle ins!ili/rors jor ollldoor In'
applrUI)i1S". Proc. 5 Internati nal CnCercncc un Pr pert ics and Applications of
Di elcctric >laterials, pp. 35-38, :VIal' 1997.
[8[ Phi ll ips. A.lldrew: "Ceralllic ,.1' fJo /ymer (noil-CerOlllic) insltlolors", EI'RI. :VIarch.
2002 . hllp: .'/\\\\\\. usda.gO\:rlls 'phillips. pelf
[9] BcrnstorL R. Allen: :\icdcrrnicr. R.andall k.: Winklcr. David S .. "Po/ymer
Compollllils I!sed in lzi{<1z I'ollage ins/l;alOr{' . IX 1407-HR 1. [-IlIbbell PO\\r
Systems. Ohio Brass Compan\. pp. 8-10.21104
[I O[ Wallstrol11, Stilla: ' Bio/ilm.1 011 "'Iicone r"hber malo'rials jor ol/rdoor Iziglz VO/III{<C
il1.ll d(lriol1", KTJ-L Stockholm. April 201>5 , pp. 8-! l.
[1 II "J,Oi1g-lenll perjoi'!IIuilCe (J I' !,O/ylJleri c
. ,
l i/.'"I! {L 1/ ()'.') 11'!th l/lid \lillzo,,1
in(}conIWJ/inat io,,". Arizona Slale U(li, :\0\ cl1Jbcl'. 2001, pp 1-2.
\\\\ \\.ca st. aSll.eclu/c tas'm ul ti stress:T'apers/nsrn 1-2 d, le
[12] :Yl uhammacl Amn. "Aging of po/ymeric il/,\/lral"r) " . Re\'ic\\ on J\dvancc ;Vlatcrials
Sc ence. )\' 0. 2, Vol. 13 . 2006. pp. 9}-1 G. Russian Academ) oC i\.dvanceel
\>Iaterials Science, Russia.
ll3J lI.. Sundararajan. E. Soundararajan, .'\. Irluharlltl1cd and J. Graves, ",Vlu/rislres\
occelero/cd ogin:: (JI jJo/ymf! !" !unI.ted surge ('o"es/ e}" lInder sil7lll/a/ed coos/o!
non!!" comlilion,,", IEEE Trans. DEI. Vol. 13, :\0. J. rp 2 1-226. Feb. 2006.
[I-t] R.(iorur. "/lgcing", AriLolld Sute 1 1:\\lR quarterl) reVle\\,
JanuaryfFebruary.20()O
[15] Burnham. ,kfT. "C;uide/11e (r \'1 ' /111; iJenli/icoli"" o{ dallli/!.ed /w/pller illlu/alor,".
Transmissiol1 depanmcllL Juno Beach, J 9'l8.
[ 16] ' Cuideli ne j;- visual ident{flcGr irm o( dl!teriorati on unrl damugc\ un su.\peJ7SlOn
composile insuJi/lOrs", SIRI Guide 3, 2003.
Aglng Im:v.sllgaf/(l Jl oj Po(rml! flc JiHull.lfors
Pn D 7ht!JI.\ . CET Taxi/a. /' a/\Is{() !1. J/m .2 UU-
35
Chapli:r 2 An o\'ervie\ l' oJ Aging o[ Po/ymeric Insulaturs
1171 Shanna, KapaL "l'olymer Il7slIlu/or.\", w\\\\.aseLab.ca/pufllleslarticle3.pdL pp.I-2
anc! 11.
[ IS] ;\. Dcrnfalk, "lll1age anal)'sls /01' dlagl7os/lcs of II/sula/ors wl/h hiologlcol
COl1laminGlions" , Sehool 01' Flectrical and Computer Fngineering, Chalmers
Lln;\' crsity of Technology, S\\cden, Tcchnical RepO1 1':0. 450 L 2002.
[ 19] -..;, Chaipanit c:. Rananakhong"iput anu R. Sundararajan, "Acedera/ce! 1II/l111.\/ress
aging o/ polYlll eric insula/ or s ul/{/er San Frai/cisco cuas",1 el7vironmel1l", IEEE
Confcn:ncc on Elec[rical Insulalion and Diclcclric Phcnomena, 200 I Annual
RepOrl, pp, 636-639. OCL 200 l .
1201 T. Gustavsson, "Silicui1<' ruhher iil,wlu/ors: 11IIf'(/Cl S uf lila/erial /orlllulallol7 iI?
COSIa/ em'iroi lmeill" . Thesis for Degrec 01' Docor of I'hi losophy, Depanl1lelH (l C
[ Ieclrical P()\\er Engineering, Chalmers lJni, ersi[, 01' Technology, Gmenberg
Swed n,2002,
[21J R, K. \'ailo. T. and K. KondQ. -- EmlualioJ1 uf POIY/llN
insulal or.1" /l/uje;- COI7/c1/1l i lw l e) c(mdi lions--. lEEE"PES T & D 2002: Asia Pacitlc
Yokohama. Jupan, October 6- 0-2002.
[22] R. \Iats\loka. M. Ishi\\ari, 1 I. Shinokubo a d K. Kondo. "Field les/ resul!s o/
poly mer nsula/(lr.\", I Ol l ISI-L Canada, ugust 1997.
[23J p, BbcknlOre, D"I3irt\\histle, G. Cash and G. George, "{'-silli col7dill(ll7 mOr/l/orn?,
uf' L/'IJ. \} COI17!)()SIIe imula/un wlng fi mrier Iro"'!r"!,, I"('u-red .Ijlee/roscopy--.
Proc. 5 ll1\ernali onal Confe rcnce on l'ropat ics and .\rrlicalions oC Dielecl ric
:-'fatcrial s. pp. 910-913. \'Ia) 1997.
1241 Frank A Senlc (Edilor), Handbook 01' Instrumental feclll1iques for Analylical
hemislry, Prenlice !lalL June ,l, 1997. ISB" , 01317733 80
/'2 5J R. Sundararaj an, J. Gra\'es, A. :-'!ohammed. and A. Baker. "Per!iinllunce evu!w/ion
O/IIOI )'liIer lc insula/un In /ah GIl"fie"'--. IEEE PO\\'Cr Engineering Socie[\'
Gell eral j\'lceling, Vol. 1, pp. Jul \' 20tH
[26] \<Iuhamm:td 1\' asir Khan, --Fie/" /eslilig 01 pol)mer ii1 )u/(}/or.\" :VIse. Thesis UET.
Taxil;), Feb. 2007 .
. lgm>:: 1m ':fllgall on vf Pul) 111(!rh' 1l'1:ilLla/ (Jrs
Ph D Th.<ls. (FJ hu-ila, PakiJ/()1!. .\./mlOO-
36
Charft'l'
Chapter 3
Effect of Individual Environmental
Parameters on Polymeric Insulators
3.1 l ntroduction
The il11 ponance of SiR for oUldoor insulmion in recenl yenrs has grO\Hl !O peak due la
bcnefl lS il orlers slaning from manufacluring to inSlallati on al lhe end user sile. The
salienl kalures ind ude cheap "nd readily ""alable malerial. one-casl Ill olding lending
10 rapid l11anufaeluring. eas\ handli ng bccause 01" less \\ci ght and 10\\ lransporlalio11
eharges bOlh uuc 10 size and \\.:!i ghl comparari"c ro ceramics Ilj . The e11d user gels
bendirs in tcrll1S of 10\\ COSI. 10\\ \\ eight [eading la [0\\ nsIa[lmion COSI in (erms of
[abar and rcduccd lO\lcr strueture cost. The Ia:,t adl Jntage tbat 311 c11d user expcets is
it s long [ite cxpeetane)'. Thi s las t paral11C1Cr is nOl ' et guaranteed 100 % because
cOl11merei a[ prouuclio11 and use oC l'ol yrncric insu[ators is nOI older than 40 years.
El eH li[1 Ihis time. the perfonnancc 01" ,ueh insulalo" has been reponed uifferent[,
I"ro 111 di fl erent SilS. In sorne sile,. gaod per[orrnance has been reporled \\hile at
others. \\ere e:<pericnccd '(lon atter inslJ[btiQn [2]. Thcrcforc. in arder to
prol11ot e sueh products. il"rn"tional Ill anufacl ur " me ;upportil1g the researchers in
cont ;nu;ng. lVork on lhe [i fe ex pect,ncy of Ihese insulators. [1 h"5 also been fOllnu thal
to insulat ors. he performance nI' pol :meric insulal ors varies
di fferent ly in "ari ous cnvironmcnt s, lhl': re;:SQn is that insulators are mostJy
organie and tkir dcgradalion. in addi li n ro tcmpcrat\lre. prcss ure. UV [igill elc .. also
dep nds on bio[ogical conditions specifi c to lil e en\ iWI1Jll el11 "here used. Obvious[y.
biologica l conuiti oll s are not the same Cl el1 if majar paramcter Iikc hea!.
pressure. UV light etc are ,ame. Thi s ere3te, an essenti31need to moni tor lhe bchavior
ofthese instllalors in all re prcsertmilc rcgiOIlS of \\ (,r1d.
Agmg nI Po b'HulaliJi ,
37
PIr n (El" Ta.n/a. Po"""Jn. \ fa.\
Effrcl [Ir fndi'duol Fm'irontnenlal Pormt!le.rs on Po/v!JIe/'lc
the tir.'.t rilase of \\'ork startcd in Pakistan in which environmcnlal
)tresse-:; \",::re appled one by one on the insulators in thc simulated abaratory
The behavior under LV radiation, lemperalure. e1ectric stress und
humidit: \\ilh speciflc refercllce lO Pakistani environment is dt5Cribtd,
3.2 ExpcriOlent
3.2.1 Specimens
HTV Siliconc rubbcr \\lholll All! and \\lhollt slIrlace treatmenl nlhe lorm orrod.
3.2.2 UV radiatill n [2.3.4.51
lhe Jvcragc I'V radiation intensily in PakislJn i, 1.098 m\\':cm' [6]. Aceordingly,
four samples "ere exposed to maxillllllll prc vailing intens il Y and ils multiplcs lor
aeceleration. These sarnples \Vere placed separatel v in Ibur closed cDntainers having
dimensions 470 x ]00 x 200 111m cac h as ,ho\\ n in Tablc 3.1 .
o
o
2
.'-\ fll :l. 6. 1 (J. 15.20,33. 43,54 and 67 da,s, a 2 mm hick 111('((: oC each sample \\as
take'll anu allal)fed using FTlR spcctro,COfl\ nc\us-(i 700 1 S.'\.
lhc IV radialioTls inlensily of m\I'!cm' \\ il' because il is ncarly Ihe
Illo',i mu1l1 UV radiatioll inlensi \ in Paki st3n [61. The highcr \ alues 01' 8.28 lllW/en{
JnJ )2,42 m\\'/cm
2
\vere Llsed for
1m eSIr.s.:arwl/ Puf) mf!/X h:.,u!u!on
IJ !1dl.\ LETTa.dla, PokiSWH .\/!/)
38
3.2.3 Salt fog test [4. 5]
fullcl\\ing setup according 10 lEC 1109 clause 5.3 WJS adopted ror salt lag test.
Si!l' of the chamber : 1111'
:\u 01' nozzles : 1
.. \ ir prcssurc: 4 kg/cm'::
10 g/litre (16000uS,cll1)
Rale offlo\\' : O,) lilrehollr
'\0, uf samples : I
Creepagc : 20 111m /k V
Applicd vollage : 2 kV
SilO 01' sample : cylindrical 30 111m \ 40 mm x lengrh)
Th sample \Vas kepr unclcr tog for 8 homs dail) ""d \ q S kepl dr) ror 16 homs "hile
electrie slres> "as applied for 24 hour5. Aflcr c\ l \ \\ cek, a pieee 01' 2 mm Ihickness
"'as taken and anal)'zeu lI sing FTIR .mal\ sis techniLJlIc.
3.2.4 Tcmperatu re test
of thc lllost signi fi cant ra Ci O( S 1(')( dcgmdJlion of aglng organlc
malerlals relllperature. To st \.ld: H: oftemperatlJre. \\\ 0 sampks were placed
in a ch amber having lhe follo\\ ng
Temp, rangc: -60'C lO 180 "C
Grodienl : () 10 3 'c
Sizeo( cnamber 1m'
Humi dil ) range : O to I (JO %
A c) lindri cal sampl e measuri ng 30 mm \ 30 mm " OS n posed la "hove-zero "nu sub-
zero tempen1ture t:ondi tions ror Onc each gi\ L'11 bet\\ .
hn Ll1 llgal ic.m v( PO(I"lneri l- I " W!(7{ (l D
39
Ph O f ET Ta:'(fu Pokw an. \ to.t ] (10 -
Chlmler j E@cl o(fl1dhidual.Em/rOllmema/ POJ'umcrer s Q Ii Pol vmeric I n.w(mors
Al lempcrall lre 01'35 oc. 40 oc. 45 0(' and 60 'e.
,.\llernpcralllre 01"-1 0 "c. -20
0
(' and -30 oc.
\ fter e.\posurc at cnch set tempt: ralu-e f()l" Orl e \\"cek. a sITIal! p i eL\.:' \Vas ClIt fo undL'rgo
FTIR ana ly,;, . lemperalll rcs \\ ere se leclcd lO represen! lhe "xlreme enndili ons
pr." ai ling in difierenl regions ofPakislan l151.
3.2.5 Effeel 01' nitri c acid
aci d is lIsually fl)L!lHi in ai r o ts dry cOllcel11 rat on i:, about 1 ,u glm
3
and wet
eoncent rali on is abonl 1000 mg/m' [7] .To see its effeel. three soluti ons ", ith different
nitrie ac id eoneent rations \\'ere prcpared and in cach solulan one sal11 ple N \\'a,
placed. Thc eO!1 eentrat ;on of sollltions and tite sampk s placed \Vere:
1 drDp of 5 l.tI of in 900 mi uf \\'aler.
2 drops of5 j I] 900 mi of,,,, te r.
.i drups 01' 5 ,11 in 900 mi of ,,;ter.
Sire of each eyli ndri cal salllple \\'as: 5 mm ,,30 111m (}engrh x dialllclcr).
3.2.6 EITcct 01' low pressllrc
At lo\\' OC at high altit udes tbe UV-radi atLlI ls are stronger. Also at 10\\
pressure lile corOna discharge vollage ma, be: lo\\er. l3 lh LV-radi alions and partial
Ji scharge ma, degrade the ins ulator. Tn stlld, lhat. three sampks each of
size 5 111m .\ :lO mm (e,linurical) \\'Cre placcJ in ' aCUUlTI chamber al prcssure
cond ili ons or 24 cm ofllg. 50 cm of Hg and 60 cm ofH.g.
3.2. 7 Effect of c1ear slInshine
Thrc 5J mples idcntified as S. R alld \\. each of sizc 5 111m .x 30 lllm (eyl indrical) \Vere
placeo jn a cl ean place at a hcight 01" 12. 19 m. On 1\\ " occasiOIl S. there \\ as li gilt rain.
Aging bnt'I;f1gmi r;n fl.f PDlpm!.r.' blSl((.'fnrs
Ph !J Tht' </t l .E!" Taxi/a. Pa.(l.SlOII. :;r)(} -
.J O
Cllamu 3
For lhe durar ion of Ihi s test, the tcmperature dll ring sunshine remained betwecn 22 to
24 " C. \I o, tly the weat her remai ned clolldy. Every ",,,,, k vll e s8mple \Vas lc;;ted.
3.2.8 EfCeet of humijity
'\ \'erage maximurtl hUl11 idil) in Pak istan i;; 78 % [i 5]. TIme ,amplcs \\'ere e.xposcd
simultaneou>ly lO 85 % 11lI mid ity. One sarnple \Vas taken out arter e\'cry hree days.
Sizc of sample \Vas 5 mm x 30 mm (cylindrical).
3.3 Results and Discussions
3.3.1 Visua l observations [R. 9 J
\ 0 rack ing. chalking. erosion and discolvration \\ere l"unJ.
3.3.2 UV radiat ion [2. 3. 4. 5. 10 1
FTIR Analysis
S0111C (l f the FTJR ' pectrll l11 ; are sho\\n il1 Fi g . .\ .1. The FTI R result s for sarnples I
and 3 are , ho\\n in ri g. 3. 2. and lhat 01' sillllple are gi\ n in Fig. 3.3. lhe "TIR
rsul ts for sample 2 are ho\\c\'er. gi\'cn in r Jbk 3.2 .
. Jgmg o/ Pol)m",'ric
41
Ph D CF] taxi/a. . .l!(1}
Chanter 3 Efkc, oflndiv;duoJ E""ironmental Pgrql1Huers on Palymer;c Inr;uJatnrs
Absorption rallo - 0.7218

, 111
i U
J--./0



11 ... :
el 10:
ii
._.J- __
i
ala :

.m'
,-
. ..,:



(UD :
O.M
o .. :

._
-




QW :
g ..
0;1"' 1
a ..
n" -:
p--:
O:D ::
ll L" ':


' -.-.- -. -.
-

,.;,. . . . a .
....._r--I )
(a) vlrgl"
A bsorp, ;on rano = O. 70 I
r
,.;,. .
.-
--"-')
(b) UY l"l""sll)' 4 14 mWlcm ajler 1 doy.,
Ab,torpr;oll raJio - 0.626
r
,.
....
-

, ...
- -')
(e) UY Inlcnsiry 11.42 mW/cnr' qfter 3 days
Flg. J.I FTIR spectrum.
Ag;,'g Investiga/Ion of PoJymeric lnslllOlOfS
Ph. D Thesi.f. VEr r ax/la, Pa/cista" May 2007
...
J
I
i ( \
r:
) I
J
. ...

f
\
,1
'. ,1
i i\/'\
\J'
.,;.,
' '';'
...
..;.
42
[honrer J F:ffecl l f hrdi1JJdual Parameler,f 0 11 PoJymeric IIt<;ulalOr.!
Sample 2
Table 3.2 Effecl ofUY radiations intensity 8.28 mW/cm
2

Sample
exposurc- (days)
Original
-10
%
iil
.o
.15
"
en
"
'"
<5 20
25
21
34
41
3
Ab.sorptioo Cbange io ab50rpti oo
ratio ratio ( % )
0. 72
0.75 5.01
0.70 -2.38
0.56 -21.39
6 20 33 54 67
Sample I
na).
flg. 3.2 Di?gradaimL' of sampln land j
It is evident from Fig. 3.2 Ihat initiaJly, the deterioraton ncreases Le. the number 01"
methyl groups decreases on lhe surrace. However, alter nitial deterlorntion, a
restoraton occurs which may be due to the movement (ditTusion) of LMW polymer
chains (polymer Jiquid or polymer oil) in Ihe bulk 10 me surface due to the difference
of densities. Also, Ihe deterioralion clTee! is more pronounced on sample 3 bu! Iwo
resloralions occur in the same ti me as compared lo sample 1 which muy be due lo
higher density difTerenee caused by higher and rapid deterioral ion [1 1. 12, 13).
Aging I m'C$tlgQliQn 01 Polymer rc lnsul moi"s
Ph D TM.",. I/F.r rad a Pol<iswTl, May 2007
43
('/meter]
2
O
2
-4
-16
-18
O
--
F.ffecl oflndividuoJ Elrvlrm1m(JJlal Parame/ea O" PoIymeric 1n.:'\ulCJ1J1a..
--
-
- - - -

16 29 36

""
-- -
"------

Samole 4
\
\
\
\
-- - -
- --
D')'5
Fig. 3.3 Degrada!ion of sample 4.
Fig. 3.3 shows tha! samplc 4 whi ch is stressed electrically beside UV Light (value
similar lO sample 1) has initially shown an lmprovement and !hen a continuous
deterioration in an increasing order. It may be stated !hal in later stages, the
deteri oration is accelerated in the presence of ele;: tric field and this deterioralion is
much faster such !hal movement of LMW molecules to lhe surface is unable to cope
wilh il. May be at sorne later stage. the restoration takes place.
SEM
SEM micrographs of original and aged samples magn ified 500 times are shown in
Fig. 3.4. These were taken using a high vaccum SEM (SEM 1SM 6460 Resolution
3Nm, Magnification 300,000 times. J EOL Japaa)
(O) Ong IfO/ (U1J ..qged)
Fig. 3.4 SF.\/ .\ /icrograph.<.
Agng lm'esligafi oif 01 Insu/alors
Ph. () T1wsis. UE! Taxi/a. Pol<l."an. May 20M
(eJ Sample '2 for 6 days)
44
11 is clear from lhe SEivl Ill icrographs ,ho"' n in Fig. 3.4 lhal some m icro-defecl s have
appeared on lhe aged samples rcsult ing incrcascd ,mface rougl111cSS. -he olltcomc of
SEi\l sludies is in Cll nf,mllilv ,,"ith lhe FTIR result ..
3.3.3 Salt fog tcst
: 'r lR reStlll S are sho"' n in Tabl e 3.3 .
Samplc F
Table J.3 EfTeel of sal t fa g.
Sample
exposu re ( days )
Absorption
ratio
Changc in
absorption ratio
(% )
Original (O) 0.72


_ _____ _________ ____ LI ______ __
--
3.3.4 Effect of tcmpcratur'c
FTIR rosulls of high temperature and Im\ tempera!ur,: are sho\\l ) in Tables 3.4 alld
3.5 . respect ivel)'.
Table Hfect Qf high temper3LUre.
Sample I Absnrplion Changc in
cxposurc (d ays) raUo absorplion ratio
( 'X, )
- .
Original (O) OT
I
35 oC
(7da;s)
066
I
-07.3
-
oC
(7 da;-
0 71
I
-0122
ce
Oda; s )
0.68
,
-05.3
60 oC (7da;; ) 0.61
r --- - ---.. -
- 1
I
IHYWgal m n/PoI) ml!rlC
Ph j) Thi! \'1.\. CET TCL\" /a, :f!(J-
45
Chapler J Effect nf !ndjyidl1al EnvJrOllmenlal Parametcr.'f nn PoIymeric l/UuIOlM ...
Table 3.5 Effect of low temperature.
Sample Absor pliOE Change in
exposure ( days ) ratio absorplioD ralio
( % )
Original (O) 0.72
Ioe (5)
0.72 0.44
20 oc ( 5 ) 0.67 6.76
30 oc ( 5 ) 0.65 8.97
lt is clear from the Tables 3.3 though 3.5 that in salt fog test and temperalure testing.
the aging behavior was ident ical to that observed in tbe UV radiat ions testing Le. a
eyclic behavior of deteriorat ion and sel frestoration.
3.3.5 Effect of nitre acid
The graph between ni trie aeid concentration and the corresponding % changc in
absorption ratio gi ven in Fig. 3.5 shows un approximate li near trend Le. lhe
deteriordli on increasing linearly wi!h the ncrease in concentrat ion of nitrie aeid.
o I
1 drop 2drop 3drop
~ -1
-
-2 f-------'''''-......,_______. ,-----
<: -3
1$
8- -4
Sl
1il -5 ]--------------
~
i : 11-. _ ~ _ _ _ _ . ~ , ___ _
-9
Concenlraliol1 of HNOJ
Fig. 3.5 DepwitJt/on oJ Samp li!.I.
3.3.6 Effect of low pressure
Fig. 3.6 shows !hat at low pressure !he deteriorution is much faster and resultantly the
deteri oration/restoration cycle completes in a shorter t ime. At hi gher pressures
Jging lnresligmlon o[ Polymeric InsuJalQrs
"ir O Thesis. (jET Tw;ila. PaJ.istan. Alay 2007
46
Chamer 3 EffeCI o(l"dividual Envlrom"'-!rlu Paramt! ler.f nn Po/ymeric Insulalnr.'ii
however, he deterioration is slow and therefore, the conscquent
deteriorationlrestoration cyc1e would also be slow.
10
l 8
o
6

'"
4
o
2
g o
.D
ro .2
.S
---- 2:4-4
'" -4
ro
-6
.c
o ..
10
"'-
"
PT<J$Uf2 (cm I/g l
fig. 3.6 Degradation of samples.
3.3.7 Effect of c1ear sUDsbioe
It is evident from Table 3.6 that initi all y I.he det.eriorat ion ine-reases and after 14 days
the resloration takes place.
Table 3.6 Effect ofclear sun shlne on samples S, R and W.
Sample AbsorptioD Cbaoge iD absorptioo
Clposure ( days ) ralio ratio('% )
Original (Ol
-
0.72
07 0.67 -06.56
14 0.60 -16.04
20 0,66 -7.638
3.3.8 Effect of humidity
It is evident from Table 3.7 that alter in itial deteriorat ion, there is a conti nuous
improvement (restoration).
Table 3,7 EfTect Dfhumidi!y.
Sa mple Absorption
exposure ( days)
Original (O)
03
06
09
A;;ing lm'fsligafion o/Polymeric lnsulmors
I'h. D TI",,,,s, LET TaxI/a. Paki.<lan. May OO?
ratio
0,72
0,69
0.75
0.76
Cbaoge io absorptioo
ratio (%)
-03. 12
4.3
5.43
47
3.3.9 Li fe est imat ioll
Dala tor sarnplc 3 was rearranged a, sho"n in Table 3.3 and a Ireno line \Vas passed
through il alld age of malerial \Vas estimaled. The acccleration factor was calcul aled
kceping in 'oie\\' the en'oironmenl of Islalllabael as undcr. ThlO LV raoiati on or 12.42
mW cm' \\a, applied rOl" 24 Il ollrs.
l; V raoiati o" al Islalllabao =1.093 1llW/cm'
A\'erage sWlshine at Isla\llab"d = 8 1101Irs
.\cccl er"tion = 1 12.42/ 1.098]" J = 33.93
l \\'. maxi mulll telllperalllrc al 1 1llnabad = 28 Oc.
TemperalLlre kepl ror 24 homs = 2S . C.
Acce! er3ti on Factor = 33.93
Table 3.8 Rcarrangement ofda!" or sample 3 ror Irend line.
--A-'
Il l' 2 :, ; -.'.7
36
7 .7
4
8;;-6:---1
0.713 I 4 1.426
10 2.212 \ ,2.2 12
15 O O
120 "'-.------;---- ,l n.528 I 1 ,10.528
f--, sc-----il-:-- -:c::-.,;c--- --: .4"'3 g:;--4--:
4
-t-
I
.-7-
1
2.87(;-
30 --" _____ ,.=2:::: .2:.::3.::8 _ _ 9 1 , 6.7 14
,c21
"1' , . 1"
L. =- -S). J)
.. X ,

7
(xy},
, -
X"
- I r
Y =-- =- 12.162
7
Agmg I m'eslIgal ioll rl Pol)merlc ImU/(lf ns
1"'11 n TlfI.!J:.t L"T Ta.xi/a. 1'(11<1:\1,711 . . \!({.\ : flrr
x)' = - 67.39
48
J
l ' (- 67.39)x - 2.407x
, 28
y -1 =- 2407(X - X)
r -12.1 62 = - 2A07(X - 3)
y = - 2.407 X 4.941
Y = - (2.407 X + 4. 941)
Al Y= - 75. X = 29.106
(29.106 x 5x33.93)
.ile =
365
75 % dMngc in absorpli ol1 ral io i5 assumt' d lO be ril e f()ilure material [3].
3.4 Statc Estimati on
Ihe slalc estimati on is the process of assigning a val ue lO an lI nkno\\ 'n s)'Slelll Slale
var iable using rncasurelll cnlS from he systcm lindel' , tud) r 13. 141. !\ssllrne Ihal il is
de,i rcd to estmate 1\Ve' stales (\ariablcs). Three n) a uren\nlS are obtained "hieh
fonn th" foll o"' ing eqllations:
t . ..J.. X :::: 1 I
" l' : . .
2", - x, 0,2
x
1
- 3x
1
= 4.8
In matri\ f0nn:
[i
- 1
"- 3
The solut ion is not lln iqll c since in gellera l il 15 nO( pl\ssibk te> Sali sl) alllhe eqllali ons
",aelly for on) choice (lf Ihe Un kn0\\ lb, i\ ,;c,I I,llion ,hOltld he sel ected ,ueh Ih31 the
error in satisfying ea eh equmion is minirnum.
l his error i, calk d Ihe residllal ofthe SOIUli'lll and can be compuled as:
)' = L - I!.y . \\ hcre
I m'erfiRaJion o( .. ,it: /JI!>ula!un
49
Ph D l El" "{a.:/a, Paklslan .\fo} : (10-
Chal?l f:! r ..'1,,- ' ___ _
Effecr nf.' ml ddll al F.m'ironmenfOI Par amr! fCf5 on PO/ JlJI/t'r;C I m'lI{owr,\'
,Y vector of the cstimated paramclcrs. and residual r is minimized by 1east
square melhod.
(iven rhe sySlem in lhe form of rhe veelOr of rhe esrimarcd paramerers I S
): =(![ lI) 'ff ' 7. = Jf? her
f-f is called [he pseudo in\erse of 11
Puning he valll es of]-l. Z
-fl098-J
.Y -
1.972
In lh is vIU<h". lhe srale var iables taken are: high remreralllre (TI 1). di"ccl 01" nilric aeid
(:\). cm:ct ofhumidil \ (1-1). and . ffeer; ofUV radiar ion ( U).
fhe dfect of humidil) is almosr neglig'lble so (1 f) \ ,,iable can be Ilcglccrcd . The
efreel (\1" cl ear sunshin(: (S) \\ill be eonsidered as Ihe o\ eral! e ffi:c 1 (\1" rhe slale
variabl es. So liJe eguarioll can b" ,,"firte n in lhe fo(m
aY + bT/f +cU = S
[
- 1.86
- 3.99
7.7
- 7.3
- 1.22
- 5.3
a - U4741
b = 0. 6644
_ cj 1 9906 J
0.4 la: -- 656
-4.95Jl h = - 16.04
. 7.28 e - 7. 638 J
In thi s \\<.1y. the wcightage ofdiffcrcl1 t parametero:; can he cak:ulatcd by a carcful $t udy
and can turt hcr he used for slare eSlunari' )1l of p"h Il1cric ill,ulators in a particular
el1\'iromnent.
Agmg J/J\'t'.'J'ttgaOon olPo(rmaic Imula,(J1'\
50
'h D Thl!XU', { 'ET Tarifa. Poq('I/, ,\1.'1..\ ] (i(i-
C I /rl VI l!J J Effec( oflndi" iduRI D WtrQnmellWI 0 11
3.5 Conclusions
Th invesrigal ion perforrned on Ihe HTV sili cone rubber ins ulalors has led lo lhe
101 10\\ ing conclusions:
During lhe cxpcrimel1lal \l ork. rhe samplcs "ere '''posed l(l LV r"d i" lion level of
12,42 m\\' /cm
1
which represenled an aeceleralion faclor of 12 sinee lhe average
UV radialion level in Pakista n is I.on mWicm- '. 0 apprec ia ble degradalion.
suc h as surface rnicro-crack inf: s of lhe samples \ler" ob,erved by SEM image
lcchnques. The maximum pcrc.entage decrcase in absorpti oll ratio \Vas observed
lO be -22.69 %.
Dur ng the sa lt fog test. DlCl xinllllll decr..:ase in rati o \\as -13.41 O( .
The exlreme lCl11peralure cond ilion5 in difterent pan s of Paki slan remain bel"een
55 "( and It' . l ile sampks \\"ere accortl ingl) l O a 1ll 3x illl1l1ll
lemperalure 01' 60 'e and lhe mnimum tell1per:Jtun: 01" -30 "c. '.0 appreLiabk
degradJt on \Vas The max illl ul1l dccrcasc in ahsorpli on rali o for hi gh
teI11f1efatun.: case wa:s - 14.54 (Yo wh ik fOT 10\\ temperil turt'. il \\as -8.97 %.
In ol he)' agi ng test Qndit ions SUCl1 as nit,ic acid, [' ''' pre<sure_ ck an sunshi nc and
humid il y. lhe maximulll change in ab,orrlion ratio "al -7,7 %,. -7.64 %, -[6.04 %
and -3. [23 %, rcspecli\'cl}.
'\mong "11 rhe UV radiatioll \l a, lound lO h< \ C lh" most prominent
dCkri orating ef'fect.
Dur ing and afler the e"posur ro lhe abo, ',' mell tiOMd paramclers. the samplcs
were ,iSl13 lly CI' Jcks. di sl:olorJ1ion .)f on: other change
\\ as observed.
The study reveled thal pol"ll eri , in"llalnr n hihils a remarkablc propel1y to
recovcr its charactcri stics \\"hcn e\PQscd 10 different indi\'idual c'Tlvronrnental
paramelers. In lael, the beh", ior 01' detcriorJl ion and selr-restoration is cyclic 111
nalurT.
-tgmg Inw!sligoll rm o/ Polyml!nc I m/tla/on
:; 1
PI; D The!iis. tET T a:r:i/a. P(1ki"'(Cl)"j \la) :'[)fJ-
E((CCf oflndil'iduull,'I7\'irollll1cl1fu Param:?f('rS OH Pol)'lllcnc InsuJafOl"S
3.6 References
r 11 T. SorqvIst. \. E, Vlastos, "C)u!door /}(J/ymcric "usu/o!ors /ong-term c:r:.posed !O
flU)( "', IEEE Tral1sactiol1s 011 po\\er deli\ery, Vol, 12, isslIc L pp, 1041 "1048,
Apri I 1997.
[2] BCrIlstorf R. 1\lIcl1. \icdcrmicr. Ral1dall k .. \\ in kler al1d David S .. "PoIYI11C1'
COllll'ound" uscd ;n hi"7 vollo?;" insulalO/''''' U I 407-H R L HlIbbell Po\\'er
Uhio Brass Compal1\. pp. 8- 10.
[3] R. SUl1dararajan,\'lohalllmad AreeLChaipandit .i'. oPPlJrn.Tim: Liu.Zhenquan:ct
aL '"fn-scn'ice uging ol/d degradolj(J/1 of 3-/.5 Id,' EPDJ! franslJlissJfl fine
n ulalO!'s ill o coaslol CIl\i /'()l'! liIelll' . IEEE Trans . DE I. Vol. 11, No. 2, pp.348-
36 1.2004.
[4] R. "latsuuka. I.'!akajima and H. Shinokllo. " Comidcralion in/() accelcm/cc!
uging lesl cotllposlle in.\ utLifor.''' o The de\'enth international
confer-e ncc on gas dischilrges and thei r Chubu L. r\ersly. Nagoya.
! 1-15 Sep .. 1995.
[S] 11. Ito. l. \akanishi. R.\latsuQka. \;1. Islli" ari . Y. Kshil1o. K. Kondo.
Kuniak i: ;-.,:. Ohtaki and :.:. Okada. ;--;,.\(wa: " CJ{i!'(,(1cr iIIlCS o/lie(!{}C/'s/cc!
maleria/sjr pO/J'J7I cr by ogin! Proceedlngs of the
si,th intcmational confc rcncc on al1d aprli cmiol1s of diclcctrc
materials. Xi"an Xi ' un China. 21 "2June. 2000.
[] " l'! ' ",(' uherillg ""d ,e/oled le 1) 1I,,}r)(!\ ... CahDt C" rl,oration. V!A-USA,
\\ \\ \\ .. cabot -corr ,coJn'plast ies o
[7] D:/assessment/ cOllntriesiA ust ia Austria as,e>,ment-I}O I \. doc 27/0 I 103.
[8] Burnharn. Jcff: Cuidc!;nc (Oi' ide1lli/icdfivj (J/ rh/Hwgi! d po(rmer
i!!Sulator.' .. . Tran smission dcpanmel1{ Juno Beach. \ 0\ ember J 998.
[9] Guidehm: / or \:islIu! o/ deferronNuiN <111(/ dumages OH
cO/lljJosi/e insu{a!Ol"_' '0 STRl (;llide 50 2003 .
. Jging DI IrI'ilrk7l(J/".\
52
Ph D LET Ta.t{a. P,1Arsfall .\10)
chaNer j F.(kCf or /uciirit/!Jli f:'l\'irol1TJ/i'ilfal Paralfif!fen 011 Po/nucr ic Im:l!lafors
[1 0] !'vIuhal11mad /\ min. :vluharnmad \kbar and R :Viatslloka: "E/lec/ afUV
n ..ldia(on, h:mp('/"({!u}'(' (og Of1 Proceedillgs oC
IEEE International ('onjerence On Propcrlics anu Application 01' Die!ectric
iVlaterials. pp 611-614. Bali. Indonesia .Il1nc 2006.
(1 1 J X. Wang, S. K um aga i, '.;. y 05 h i I11l1 rJ: "Col7lallli nalion pe (formalice S ofsi licone
ruhb(' }' ;nsu!(l/or 10 acid rain. IEEE Transacti ons 011 Dielectrics and
In ulat ;on: pp. 909-916 Vo!.5. "o. 6. Dec. 1998
[121 :Vl uhal1l mad A m in. \ 'Iuharnmad ;\kbar: ' SIIidy aj propcrlin offJolymeric
iJ/.l'lIlu/ors'. Proceedi ngs 01' IEEE Intcmational Confercncc on Propel1ies anc!
!\pplicarion 01' Diclectric 'vlateria ls. pp. 506-S09. [lal i. Indonesia . .Il1nc 2006.
[ 13J Muhammad Amin. Vluhal11mad Akbar and ?vll1ll amJ11ad Ali. "E"/I/I/alio/l Orl{(l/ e
w/( I (lge al fJo(vmeric in"ilotors from lhe e[fecl of /lu/i\'idua! em'irullJnerllo!
pCliuillelers" . accepted b, WSEAS Transact ions 0 0 Circuits and Systems. 2007.
[141 G II\'u1. S Kals i E K\' ri akidcs ... A ,,"en-! cJ"':." (JJI .lync"")J!()/(s lIIul
,\ync},rOr/Olfs condeJ1\'C:I' . A rizona Statc
[151 ,\ IJB I{ET\S555-!:'mimr/mel)/ SIa/ i"ics. PakiHotl.
,'Igtg Im:t!sflgOlwn o/ /n<ufalvl"
53
pI D TI/('sis LCTT(1J: ila, ,\10) 20lF
Charft'l'
Chapter 3
Effect of Individual Environmental
Parameters on Polymeric Insulators
3.1 l ntroduction
The il11 ponance of SiR for oUldoor insulmion in recenl yenrs has grO\Hl !O peak due la
bcnefl lS il orlers slaning from manufacluring to inSlallati on al lhe end user sile. The
salienl kalures ind ude cheap "nd readily ""alable malerial. one-casl Ill olding lending
10 rapid l11anufaeluring. eas\ handli ng bccause 01" less \\ci ght and 10\\ lransporlalio11
eharges bOlh uuc 10 size and \\.:!i ghl comparari"c ro ceramics Ilj . The e11d user gels
bendirs in tcrll1S of 10\\ COSI. 10\\ \\ eight [eading la [0\\ nsIa[lmion COSI in (erms of
[abar and rcduccd lO\lcr strueture cost. The Ia:,t adl Jntage tbat 311 c11d user expcets is
it s long [ite cxpeetane)'. Thi s las t paral11C1Cr is nOl ' et guaranteed 100 % because
cOl11merei a[ prouuclio11 and use oC l'ol yrncric insu[ators is nOI older than 40 years.
El eH li[1 Ihis time. the perfonnancc 01" ,ueh insulalo" has been reponed uifferent[,
I"ro 111 di fl erent SilS. In sorne sile,. gaod per[orrnance has been reporled \\hile at
others. \\ere e:<pericnccd '(lon atter inslJ[btiQn [2]. Thcrcforc. in arder to
prol11ot e sueh products. il"rn"tional Ill anufacl ur " me ;upportil1g the researchers in
cont ;nu;ng. lVork on lhe [i fe ex pect,ncy of Ihese insulators. [1 h"5 also been fOllnu thal
to insulat ors. he performance nI' pol :meric insulal ors varies
di fferent ly in "ari ous cnvironmcnt s, lhl': re;:SQn is that insulators are mostJy
organie and tkir dcgradalion. in addi li n ro tcmpcrat\lre. prcss ure. UV [igill elc .. also
dep nds on bio[ogical conditions specifi c to lil e en\ iWI1Jll el11 "here used. Obvious[y.
biologica l conuiti oll s are not the same Cl el1 if majar paramcter Iikc hea!.
pressure. UV light etc are ,ame. Thi s ere3te, an essenti31need to moni tor lhe bchavior
ofthese instllalors in all re prcsertmilc rcgiOIlS of \\ (,r1d.
Agmg nI Po b'HulaliJi ,
37
PIr n (El" Ta.n/a. Po"""Jn. \ fa.\
Effrcl [Ir fndi'duol Fm'irontnenlal Pormt!le.rs on Po/v!JIe/'lc
the tir.'.t rilase of \\'ork startcd in Pakistan in which environmcnlal
)tresse-:; \",::re appled one by one on the insulators in thc simulated abaratory
The behavior under LV radiation, lemperalure. e1ectric stress und
humidit: \\ilh speciflc refercllce lO Pakistani environment is dt5Cribtd,
3.2 ExpcriOlent
3.2.1 Specimens
HTV Siliconc rubbcr \\lholll All! and \\lhollt slIrlace treatmenl nlhe lorm orrod.
3.2.2 UV radiatill n [2.3.4.51
lhe Jvcragc I'V radiation intensily in PakislJn i, 1.098 m\\':cm' [6]. Aceordingly,
four samples "ere exposed to maxillllllll prc vailing intens il Y and ils multiplcs lor
aeceleration. These sarnples \Vere placed separatel v in Ibur closed cDntainers having
dimensions 470 x ]00 x 200 111m cac h as ,ho\\ n in Tablc 3.1 .
o
o
2
.'-\ fll :l. 6. 1 (J. 15.20,33. 43,54 and 67 da,s, a 2 mm hick 111('((: oC each sample \\as
take'll anu allal)fed using FTlR spcctro,COfl\ nc\us-(i 700 1 S.'\.
lhc IV radialioTls inlensily of m\I'!cm' \\ il' because il is ncarly Ihe
Illo',i mu1l1 UV radiatioll inlensi \ in Paki st3n [61. The highcr \ alues 01' 8.28 lllW/en{
JnJ )2,42 m\\'/cm
2
\vere Llsed for
1m eSIr.s.:arwl/ Puf) mf!/X h:.,u!u!on
IJ !1dl.\ LETTa.dla, PokiSWH .\/!/)
38
3.2.3 Salt fog test [4. 5]
fullcl\\ing setup according 10 lEC 1109 clause 5.3 WJS adopted ror salt lag test.
Si!l' of the chamber : 1111'
:\u 01' nozzles : 1
.. \ ir prcssurc: 4 kg/cm'::
10 g/litre (16000uS,cll1)
Rale offlo\\' : O,) lilrehollr
'\0, uf samples : I
Creepagc : 20 111m /k V
Applicd vollage : 2 kV
SilO 01' sample : cylindrical 30 111m \ 40 mm x lengrh)
Th sample \Vas kepr unclcr tog for 8 homs dail) ""d \ q S kepl dr) ror 16 homs "hile
electrie slres> "as applied for 24 hour5. Aflcr c\ l \ \\ cek, a pieee 01' 2 mm Ihickness
"'as taken and anal)'zeu lI sing FTIR .mal\ sis techniLJlIc.
3.2.4 Tcmperatu re test
of thc lllost signi fi cant ra Ci O( S 1(')( dcgmdJlion of aglng organlc
malerlals relllperature. To st \.ld: H: oftemperatlJre. \\\ 0 sampks were placed
in a ch amber having lhe follo\\ ng
Temp, rangc: -60'C lO 180 "C
Grodienl : () 10 3 'c
Sizeo( cnamber 1m'
Humi dil ) range : O to I (JO %
A c) lindri cal sampl e measuri ng 30 mm \ 30 mm " OS n posed la "hove-zero "nu sub-
zero tempen1ture t:ondi tions ror Onc each gi\ L'11 bet\\ .
hn Ll1 llgal ic.m v( PO(I"lneri l- I " W!(7{ (l D
39
Ph O f ET Ta:'(fu Pokw an. \ to.t ] (10 -
Chlmler j E@cl o(fl1dhidual.Em/rOllmema/ POJ'umcrer s Q Ii Pol vmeric I n.w(mors
Al lempcrall lre 01'35 oc. 40 oc. 45 0(' and 60 'e.
,.\llernpcralllre 01"-1 0 "c. -20
0
(' and -30 oc.
\ fter e.\posurc at cnch set tempt: ralu-e f()l" Orl e \\"cek. a sITIal! p i eL\.:' \Vas ClIt fo undL'rgo
FTIR ana ly,;, . lemperalll rcs \\ ere se leclcd lO represen! lhe "xlreme enndili ons
pr." ai ling in difierenl regions ofPakislan l151.
3.2.5 Effeel 01' nitri c acid
aci d is lIsually fl)L!lHi in ai r o ts dry cOllcel11 rat on i:, about 1 ,u glm
3
and wet
eoncent rali on is abonl 1000 mg/m' [7] .To see its effeel. three soluti ons ", ith different
nitrie ac id eoneent rations \\'ere prcpared and in cach solulan one sal11 ple N \\'a,
placed. Thc eO!1 eentrat ;on of sollltions and tite sampk s placed \Vere:
1 drDp of 5 l.tI of in 900 mi uf \\'aler.
2 drops of5 j I] 900 mi of,,,, te r.
.i drups 01' 5 ,11 in 900 mi of ,,;ter.
Sire of each eyli ndri cal salllple \\'as: 5 mm ,,30 111m (}engrh x dialllclcr).
3.2.6 EITcct 01' low pressllrc
At lo\\' OC at high altit udes tbe UV-radi atLlI ls are stronger. Also at 10\\
pressure lile corOna discharge vollage ma, be: lo\\er. l3 lh LV-radi alions and partial
Ji scharge ma, degrade the ins ulator. Tn stlld, lhat. three sampks each of
size 5 111m .\ :lO mm (e,linurical) \\'Cre placcJ in ' aCUUlTI chamber al prcssure
cond ili ons or 24 cm ofllg. 50 cm of Hg and 60 cm ofH.g.
3.2. 7 Effect of c1ear slInshine
Thrc 5J mples idcntified as S. R alld \\. each of sizc 5 111m .x 30 lllm (eyl indrical) \Vere
placeo jn a cl ean place at a hcight 01" 12. 19 m. On 1\\ " occasiOIl S. there \\ as li gilt rain.
Aging bnt'I;f1gmi r;n fl.f PDlpm!.r.' blSl((.'fnrs
Ph !J Tht' </t l .E!" Taxi/a. Pa.(l.SlOII. :;r)(} -
.J O
Cllamu 3
For lhe durar ion of Ihi s test, the tcmperature dll ring sunshine remained betwecn 22 to
24 " C. \I o, tly the weat her remai ned clolldy. Every ",,,,, k vll e s8mple \Vas lc;;ted.
3.2.8 EfCeet of humijity
'\ \'erage maximurtl hUl11 idil) in Pak istan i;; 78 % [i 5]. TIme ,amplcs \\'ere e.xposcd
simultaneou>ly lO 85 % 11lI mid ity. One sarnple \Vas taken out arter e\'cry hree days.
Sizc of sample \Vas 5 mm x 30 mm (cylindrical).
3.3 Results and Discussions
3.3.1 Visua l observations [R. 9 J
\ 0 rack ing. chalking. erosion and discolvration \\ere l"unJ.
3.3.2 UV radiat ion [2. 3. 4. 5. 10 1
FTIR Analysis
S0111C (l f the FTJR ' pectrll l11 ; are sho\\n il1 Fi g . .\ .1. The FTI R result s for sarnples I
and 3 are , ho\\n in ri g. 3. 2. and lhat 01' sillllple are gi\ n in Fig. 3.3. lhe "TIR
rsul ts for sample 2 are ho\\c\'er. gi\'cn in r Jbk 3.2 .
. Jgmg o/ Pol)m",'ric
41
Ph D CF] taxi/a. . .l!(1}
Chanter 3 Efkc, oflndiv;duoJ E""ironmental Pgrql1Huers on Palymer;c Inr;uJatnrs
Absorption rallo - 0.7218

, 111
i U
J--./0



11 ... :
el 10:
ii
._.J- __
i
ala :

.m'
,-
. ..,:



(UD :
O.M
o .. :

._
-




QW :
g ..
0;1"' 1
a ..
n" -:
p--:
O:D ::
ll L" ':


' -.-.- -. -.
-

,.;,. . . . a .
....._r--I )
(a) vlrgl"
A bsorp, ;on rano = O. 70 I
r
,.;,. .
.-
--"-')
(b) UY l"l""sll)' 4 14 mWlcm ajler 1 doy.,
Ab,torpr;oll raJio - 0.626
r
,.
....
-

, ...
- -')
(e) UY Inlcnsiry 11.42 mW/cnr' qfter 3 days
Flg. J.I FTIR spectrum.
Ag;,'g Investiga/Ion of PoJymeric lnslllOlOfS
Ph. D Thesi.f. VEr r ax/la, Pa/cista" May 2007
...
J
I
i ( \
r:
) I
J
. ...

f
\
,1
'. ,1
i i\/'\
\J'
.,;.,
' '';'
...
..;.
42
[honrer J F:ffecl l f hrdi1JJdual Parameler,f 0 11 PoJymeric IIt<;ulalOr.!
Sample 2
Table 3.2 Effecl ofUY radiations intensity 8.28 mW/cm
2

Sample
exposurc- (days)
Original
-10
%
iil
.o
.15
"
en
"
'"
<5 20
25
21
34
41
3
Ab.sorptioo Cbange io ab50rpti oo
ratio ratio ( % )
0. 72
0.75 5.01
0.70 -2.38
0.56 -21.39
6 20 33 54 67
Sample I
na).
flg. 3.2 Di?gradaimL' of sampln land j
It is evident from Fig. 3.2 Ihat initiaJly, the deterioraton ncreases Le. the number 01"
methyl groups decreases on lhe surrace. However, alter nitial deterlorntion, a
restoraton occurs which may be due to the movement (ditTusion) of LMW polymer
chains (polymer Jiquid or polymer oil) in Ihe bulk 10 me surface due to the difference
of densities. Also, Ihe deterioralion clTee! is more pronounced on sample 3 bu! Iwo
resloralions occur in the same ti me as compared lo sample 1 which muy be due lo
higher density difTerenee caused by higher and rapid deterioral ion [1 1. 12, 13).
Aging I m'C$tlgQliQn 01 Polymer rc lnsul moi"s
Ph D TM.",. I/F.r rad a Pol<iswTl, May 2007
43
('/meter]
2
O
2
-4
-16
-18
O
--
F.ffecl oflndividuoJ Elrvlrm1m(JJlal Parame/ea O" PoIymeric 1n.:'\ulCJ1J1a..
--
-
- - - -

16 29 36

""
-- -
"------

Samole 4
\
\
\
\
-- - -
- --
D')'5
Fig. 3.3 Degrada!ion of sample 4.
Fig. 3.3 shows tha! samplc 4 whi ch is stressed electrically beside UV Light (value
similar lO sample 1) has initially shown an lmprovement and !hen a continuous
deterioration in an increasing order. It may be stated !hal in later stages, the
deteri oration is accelerated in the presence of ele;: tric field and this deterioralion is
much faster such !hal movement of LMW molecules to lhe surface is unable to cope
wilh il. May be at sorne later stage. the restoration takes place.
SEM
SEM micrographs of original and aged samples magn ified 500 times are shown in
Fig. 3.4. These were taken using a high vaccum SEM (SEM 1SM 6460 Resolution
3Nm, Magnification 300,000 times. J EOL Japaa)
(O) Ong IfO/ (U1J ..qged)
Fig. 3.4 SF.\/ .\ /icrograph.<.
Agng lm'esligafi oif 01 Insu/alors
Ph. () T1wsis. UE! Taxi/a. Pol<l."an. May 20M
(eJ Sample '2 for 6 days)
44
11 is clear from lhe SEivl Ill icrographs ,ho"' n in Fig. 3.4 lhal some m icro-defecl s have
appeared on lhe aged samples rcsult ing incrcascd ,mface rougl111cSS. -he olltcomc of
SEi\l sludies is in Cll nf,mllilv ,,"ith lhe FTIR result ..
3.3.3 Salt fog tcst
: 'r lR reStlll S are sho"' n in Tabl e 3.3 .
Samplc F
Table J.3 EfTeel of sal t fa g.
Sample
exposu re ( days )
Absorption
ratio
Changc in
absorption ratio
(% )
Original (O) 0.72


_ _____ _________ ____ LI ______ __
--
3.3.4 Effect of tcmpcratur'c
FTIR rosulls of high temperature and Im\ tempera!ur,: are sho\\l ) in Tables 3.4 alld
3.5 . respect ivel)'.
Table Hfect Qf high temper3LUre.
Sample I Absnrplion Changc in
cxposurc (d ays) raUo absorplion ratio
( 'X, )
- .
Original (O) OT
I
35 oC
(7da;s)
066
I
-07.3
-
oC
(7 da;-
0 71
I
-0122
ce
Oda; s )
0.68
,
-05.3
60 oC (7da;; ) 0.61
r --- - ---.. -
- 1
I
IHYWgal m n/PoI) ml!rlC
Ph j) Thi! \'1.\. CET TCL\" /a, :f!(J-
45
Chapler J Effect nf !ndjyidl1al EnvJrOllmenlal Parametcr.'f nn PoIymeric l/UuIOlM ...
Table 3.5 Effect of low temperature.
Sample Absor pliOE Change in
exposure ( days ) ratio absorplioD ralio
( % )
Original (O) 0.72
Ioe (5)
0.72 0.44
20 oc ( 5 ) 0.67 6.76
30 oc ( 5 ) 0.65 8.97
lt is clear from the Tables 3.3 though 3.5 that in salt fog test and temperalure testing.
the aging behavior was ident ical to that observed in tbe UV radiat ions testing Le. a
eyclic behavior of deteriorat ion and sel frestoration.
3.3.5 Effect of nitre acid
The graph between ni trie aeid concentration and the corresponding % changc in
absorption ratio gi ven in Fig. 3.5 shows un approximate li near trend Le. lhe
deteriordli on increasing linearly wi!h the ncrease in concentrat ion of nitrie aeid.
o I
1 drop 2drop 3drop
~ -1
-
-2 f-------'''''-......,_______. ,-----
<: -3
1$
8- -4
Sl
1il -5 ]--------------
~
i : 11-. _ ~ _ _ _ _ . ~ , ___ _
-9
Concenlraliol1 of HNOJ
Fig. 3.5 DepwitJt/on oJ Samp li!.I.
3.3.6 Effect of low pressure
Fig. 3.6 shows !hat at low pressure !he deteriorution is much faster and resultantly the
deteri oration/restoration cycle completes in a shorter t ime. At hi gher pressures
Jging lnresligmlon o[ Polymeric InsuJalQrs
"ir O Thesis. (jET Tw;ila. PaJ.istan. Alay 2007
46
Chamer 3 EffeCI o(l"dividual Envlrom"'-!rlu Paramt! ler.f nn Po/ymeric Insulalnr.'ii
however, he deterioration is slow and therefore, the conscquent
deteriorationlrestoration cyc1e would also be slow.
10
l 8
o
6

'"
4
o
2
g o
.D
ro .2
.S
---- 2:4-4
'" -4
ro
-6
.c
o ..
10
"'-
"
PT<J$Uf2 (cm I/g l
fig. 3.6 Degradation of samples.
3.3.7 Effect of c1ear sUDsbioe
It is evident from Table 3.6 that initi all y I.he det.eriorat ion ine-reases and after 14 days
the resloration takes place.
Table 3.6 Effect ofclear sun shlne on samples S, R and W.
Sample AbsorptioD Cbaoge iD absorptioo
Clposure ( days ) ralio ratio('% )
Original (Ol
-
0.72
07 0.67 -06.56
14 0.60 -16.04
20 0,66 -7.638
3.3.8 Effect of humidity
It is evident from Table 3.7 that alter in itial deteriorat ion, there is a conti nuous
improvement (restoration).
Table 3,7 EfTect Dfhumidi!y.
Sa mple Absorption
exposure ( days)
Original (O)
03
06
09
A;;ing lm'fsligafion o/Polymeric lnsulmors
I'h. D TI",,,,s, LET TaxI/a. Paki.<lan. May OO?
ratio
0,72
0,69
0.75
0.76
Cbaoge io absorptioo
ratio (%)
-03. 12
4.3
5.43
47
3.3.9 Li fe est imat ioll
Dala tor sarnplc 3 was rearranged a, sho"n in Table 3.3 and a Ireno line \Vas passed
through il alld age of malerial \Vas estimaled. The acccleration factor was calcul aled
kceping in 'oie\\' the en'oironmenl of Islalllabael as undcr. ThlO LV raoiati on or 12.42
mW cm' \\a, applied rOl" 24 Il ollrs.
l; V raoiati o" al Islalllabao =1.093 1llW/cm'
A\'erage sWlshine at Isla\llab"d = 8 1101Irs
.\cccl er"tion = 1 12.42/ 1.098]" J = 33.93
l \\'. maxi mulll telllperalllrc al 1 1llnabad = 28 Oc.
TemperalLlre kepl ror 24 homs = 2S . C.
Acce! er3ti on Factor = 33.93
Table 3.8 Rcarrangement ofda!" or sample 3 ror Irend line.
--A-'
Il l' 2 :, ; -.'.7
36
7 .7
4
8;;-6:---1
0.713 I 4 1.426
10 2.212 \ ,2.2 12
15 O O
120 "'-.------;---- ,l n.528 I 1 ,10.528
f--, sc-----il-:-- -:c::-.,;c--- --: .4"'3 g:;--4--:
4
-t-
I
.-7-
1
2.87(;-
30 --" _____ ,.=2:::: .2:.::3.::8 _ _ 9 1 , 6.7 14
,c21
"1' , . 1"
L. =- -S). J)
.. X ,

7
(xy},
, -
X"
- I r
Y =-- =- 12.162
7
Agmg I m'eslIgal ioll rl Pol)merlc ImU/(lf ns
1"'11 n TlfI.!J:.t L"T Ta.xi/a. 1'(11<1:\1,711 . . \!({.\ : flrr
x)' = - 67.39
48
J
l ' (- 67.39)x - 2.407x
, 28
y -1 =- 2407(X - X)
r -12.1 62 = - 2A07(X - 3)
y = - 2.407 X 4.941
Y = - (2.407 X + 4. 941)
Al Y= - 75. X = 29.106
(29.106 x 5x33.93)
.ile =
365
75 % dMngc in absorpli ol1 ral io i5 assumt' d lO be ril e f()ilure material [3].
3.4 Statc Estimati on
Ihe slalc estimati on is the process of assigning a val ue lO an lI nkno\\ 'n s)'Slelll Slale
var iable using rncasurelll cnlS from he systcm lindel' , tud) r 13. 141. !\ssllrne Ihal il is
de,i rcd to estmate 1\Ve' stales (\ariablcs). Three n) a uren\nlS are obtained "hieh
fonn th" foll o"' ing eqllations:
t . ..J.. X :::: 1 I
" l' : . .
2", - x, 0,2
x
1
- 3x
1
= 4.8
In matri\ f0nn:
[i
- 1
"- 3
The solut ion is not lln iqll c since in gellera l il 15 nO( pl\ssibk te> Sali sl) alllhe eqllali ons
",aelly for on) choice (lf Ihe Un kn0\\ lb, i\ ,;c,I I,llion ,hOltld he sel ected ,ueh Ih31 the
error in satisfying ea eh equmion is minirnum.
l his error i, calk d Ihe residllal ofthe SOIUli'lll and can be compuled as:
)' = L - I!.y . \\ hcre
I m'erfiRaJion o( .. ,it: /JI!>ula!un
49
Ph D l El" "{a.:/a, Paklslan .\fo} : (10-
Chal?l f:! r ..'1,,- ' ___ _
Effecr nf.' ml ddll al F.m'ironmenfOI Par amr! fCf5 on PO/ JlJI/t'r;C I m'lI{owr,\'
,Y vector of the cstimated paramclcrs. and residual r is minimized by 1east
square melhod.
(iven rhe sySlem in lhe form of rhe veelOr of rhe esrimarcd paramerers I S
): =(![ lI) 'ff ' 7. = Jf? her
f-f is called [he pseudo in\erse of 11
Puning he valll es of]-l. Z
-fl098-J
.Y -
1.972
In lh is vIU<h". lhe srale var iables taken are: high remreralllre (TI 1). di"ccl 01" nilric aeid
(:\). cm:ct ofhumidil \ (1-1). and . ffeer; ofUV radiar ion ( U).
fhe dfect of humidil) is almosr neglig'lble so (1 f) \ ,,iable can be Ilcglccrcd . The
efreel (\1" cl ear sunshin(: (S) \\ill be eonsidered as Ihe o\ eral! e ffi:c 1 (\1" rhe slale
variabl es. So liJe eguarioll can b" ,,"firte n in lhe fo(m
aY + bT/f +cU = S
[
- 1.86
- 3.99
7.7
- 7.3
- 1.22
- 5.3
a - U4741
b = 0. 6644
_ cj 1 9906 J
0.4 la: -- 656
-4.95Jl h = - 16.04
. 7.28 e - 7. 638 J
In thi s \\<.1y. the wcightage ofdiffcrcl1 t parametero:; can he cak:ulatcd by a carcful $t udy
and can turt hcr he used for slare eSlunari' )1l of p"h Il1cric ill,ulators in a particular
el1\'iromnent.
Agmg J/J\'t'.'J'ttgaOon olPo(rmaic Imula,(J1'\
50
'h D Thl!XU', { 'ET Tarifa. Poq('I/, ,\1.'1..\ ] (i(i-
C I /rl VI l!J J Effec( oflndi" iduRI D WtrQnmellWI 0 11
3.5 Conclusions
Th invesrigal ion perforrned on Ihe HTV sili cone rubber ins ulalors has led lo lhe
101 10\\ ing conclusions:
During lhe cxpcrimel1lal \l ork. rhe samplcs "ere '''posed l(l LV r"d i" lion level of
12,42 m\\' /cm
1
which represenled an aeceleralion faclor of 12 sinee lhe average
UV radialion level in Pakista n is I.on mWicm- '. 0 apprec ia ble degradalion.
suc h as surface rnicro-crack inf: s of lhe samples \ler" ob,erved by SEM image
lcchnques. The maximum pcrc.entage decrcase in absorpti oll ratio \Vas observed
lO be -22.69 %.
Dur ng the sa lt fog test. DlCl xinllllll decr..:ase in rati o \\as -13.41 O( .
The exlreme lCl11peralure cond ilion5 in difterent pan s of Paki slan remain bel"een
55 "( and It' . l ile sampks \\"ere accortl ingl) l O a 1ll 3x illl1l1ll
lemperalure 01' 60 'e and lhe mnimum tell1per:Jtun: 01" -30 "c. '.0 appreLiabk
degradJt on \Vas The max illl ul1l dccrcasc in ahsorpli on rali o for hi gh
teI11f1efatun.: case wa:s - 14.54 (Yo wh ik fOT 10\\ temperil turt'. il \\as -8.97 %.
In ol he)' agi ng test Qndit ions SUCl1 as nit,ic acid, [' ''' pre<sure_ ck an sunshi nc and
humid il y. lhe maximulll change in ab,orrlion ratio "al -7,7 %,. -7.64 %, -[6.04 %
and -3. [23 %, rcspecli\'cl}.
'\mong "11 rhe UV radiatioll \l a, lound lO h< \ C lh" most prominent
dCkri orating ef'fect.
Dur ing and afler the e"posur ro lhe abo, ',' mell tiOMd paramclers. the samplcs
were ,iSl13 lly CI' Jcks. di sl:olorJ1ion .)f on: other change
\\ as observed.
The study reveled thal pol"ll eri , in"llalnr n hihils a remarkablc propel1y to
recovcr its charactcri stics \\"hcn e\PQscd 10 different indi\'idual c'Tlvronrnental
paramelers. In lael, the beh", ior 01' detcriorJl ion and selr-restoration is cyclic 111
nalurT.
-tgmg Inw!sligoll rm o/ Polyml!nc I m/tla/on
:; 1
PI; D The!iis. tET T a:r:i/a. P(1ki"'(Cl)"j \la) :'[)fJ-
E((CCf oflndil'iduull,'I7\'irollll1cl1fu Param:?f('rS OH Pol)'lllcnc InsuJafOl"S
3.6 References
r 11 T. SorqvIst. \. E, Vlastos, "C)u!door /}(J/ymcric "usu/o!ors /ong-term c:r:.posed !O
flU)( "', IEEE Tral1sactiol1s 011 po\\er deli\ery, Vol, 12, isslIc L pp, 1041 "1048,
Apri I 1997.
[2] BCrIlstorf R. 1\lIcl1. \icdcrmicr. Ral1dall k .. \\ in kler al1d David S .. "PoIYI11C1'
COllll'ound" uscd ;n hi"7 vollo?;" insulalO/''''' U I 407-H R L HlIbbell Po\\'er
Uhio Brass Compal1\. pp. 8- 10.
[3] R. SUl1dararajan,\'lohalllmad AreeLChaipandit .i'. oPPlJrn.Tim: Liu.Zhenquan:ct
aL '"fn-scn'ice uging ol/d degradolj(J/1 of 3-/.5 Id,' EPDJ! franslJlissJfl fine
n ulalO!'s ill o coaslol CIl\i /'()l'! liIelll' . IEEE Trans . DE I. Vol. 11, No. 2, pp.348-
36 1.2004.
[4] R. "latsuuka. I.'!akajima and H. Shinokllo. " Comidcralion in/() accelcm/cc!
uging lesl cotllposlle in.\ utLifor.''' o The de\'enth international
confer-e ncc on gas dischilrges and thei r Chubu L. r\ersly. Nagoya.
! 1-15 Sep .. 1995.
[S] 11. Ito. l. \akanishi. R.\latsuQka. \;1. Islli" ari . Y. Kshil1o. K. Kondo.
Kuniak i: ;-.,:. Ohtaki and :.:. Okada. ;--;,.\(wa: " CJ{i!'(,(1cr iIIlCS o/lie(!{}C/'s/cc!
maleria/sjr pO/J'J7I cr by ogin! Proceedlngs of the
si,th intcmational confc rcncc on al1d aprli cmiol1s of diclcctrc
materials. Xi"an Xi ' un China. 21 "2June. 2000.
[] " l'! ' ",(' uherillg ""d ,e/oled le 1) 1I,,}r)(!\ ... CahDt C" rl,oration. V!A-USA,
\\ \\ \\ .. cabot -corr ,coJn'plast ies o
[7] D:/assessment/ cOllntriesiA ust ia Austria as,e>,ment-I}O I \. doc 27/0 I 103.
[8] Burnharn. Jcff: Cuidc!;nc (Oi' ide1lli/icdfivj (J/ rh/Hwgi! d po(rmer
i!!Sulator.' .. . Tran smission dcpanmel1{ Juno Beach. \ 0\ ember J 998.
[9] Guidehm: / or \:islIu! o/ deferronNuiN <111(/ dumages OH
cO/lljJosi/e insu{a!Ol"_' '0 STRl (;llide 50 2003 .
. Jging DI IrI'ilrk7l(J/".\
52
Ph D LET Ta.t{a. P,1Arsfall .\10)
chaNer j F.(kCf or /uciirit/!Jli f:'l\'irol1TJ/i'ilfal Paralfif!fen 011 Po/nucr ic Im:l!lafors
[1 0] !'vIuhal11mad /\ min. :vluharnmad \kbar and R :Viatslloka: "E/lec/ afUV
n ..ldia(on, h:mp('/"({!u}'(' (og Of1 Proceedillgs oC
IEEE International ('onjerence On Propcrlics anu Application 01' Die!ectric
iVlaterials. pp 611-614. Bali. Indonesia .Il1nc 2006.
(1 1 J X. Wang, S. K um aga i, '.;. y 05 h i I11l1 rJ: "Col7lallli nalion pe (formalice S ofsi licone
ruhb(' }' ;nsu!(l/or 10 acid rain. IEEE Transacti ons 011 Dielectrics and
In ulat ;on: pp. 909-916 Vo!.5. "o. 6. Dec. 1998
[121 :Vl uhal1l mad A m in. \ 'Iuharnmad ;\kbar: ' SIIidy aj propcrlin offJolymeric
iJ/.l'lIlu/ors'. Proceedi ngs 01' IEEE Intcmational Confercncc on Propel1ies anc!
!\pplicarion 01' Diclectric 'vlateria ls. pp. 506-S09. [lal i. Indonesia . .Il1nc 2006.
[ 13J Muhammad Amin. Vluhal11mad Akbar and ?vll1ll amJ11ad Ali. "E"/I/I/alio/l Orl{(l/ e
w/( I (lge al fJo(vmeric in"ilotors from lhe e[fecl of /lu/i\'idua! em'irullJnerllo!
pCliuillelers" . accepted b, WSEAS Transact ions 0 0 Circuits and Systems. 2007.
[141 G II\'u1. S Kals i E K\' ri akidcs ... A ,,"en-! cJ"':." (JJI .lync"")J!()/(s lIIul
,\ync},rOr/Olfs condeJ1\'C:I' . A rizona Statc
[151 ,\ IJB I{ET\S555-!:'mimr/mel)/ SIa/ i"ics. PakiHotl.
,'Igtg Im:t!sflgOlwn o/ /n<ufalvl"
53
pI D TI/('sis LCTT(1J: ila, ,\10) 20lF
Chapter 5
Effect of UV Radiations and Pressure on Heavily
PollutedlUnpolluted HTV SiR Used as Outdoor
Insulation
5.1 I ntroduction
lhe lhird pilase 01" rcsearch "as particularl y fOCUSed on performance precliction of
polymcric insulators al higher altitudes in lhe mounlainous areas. lhis is a pionecring
\\ ork and fi rs l of its kind cver co nduclcd 10 reble aging of polymeric insulalor 10 high-
allilude lo"'-pressure eondil ions. Th" typical combinatan 01' stress prcselll in such areas
is st rong 1 V light and lcm pressur' [1 ]. The colder en' ollment at a higher alliludc
makes lhe "fleel 01' hcal on aging as indc\anl. \ccordingly. in lhis phasc 01' sludy 10\\-
pressure condilions "ere mainl ai ned alon \\;lh a cJ)mbinali on 01' LV ligill inlensitics
re present ing day and night condi li ons. The material in\ eSligaled \\as I-lTV -SiR used as
311 ourdoor inslIlation. A sy$temat ic s(lId, \\as carriccl out \0 llndersland lhe cffecl of 10\\-
preSsure 00 trans1Jlission li nes passillg lhn.>ugll high-altilllde mountainolls regions.
VariatiQIl of atmospilcric pressure in Paki slan is rom 55.3 cm 01' fIg al an alliludc 01'
2590 m to 74.6 cm of [[g al 3n al t il uJe of 132 Jl1 [:2 . 3 / Th;5 chapler prcsenls lhe outcome
of he stud, which dealt \\ irh lo" - ,r"$Sure cnndilions cm \ arious lypcs of polluled.
lln[lol\uted. cnergized ami un-energized samplcs of poi> meri ,' insulators .
. 191g It ne-:.siIgr/N}tl o; Pol)."mf!n( 11I 511{ali) IS.
Ph !) Thew: I } T lCillo. l/ay :(Ur
71
( '/raplf r5 Effi!cl o( l IV Radia/ion mu! Pressure O" Ht>gyily Hn / SiR u:wd tU nulJoor 'Lm/o/inTl
5.2 Experimental Arrangement
This study was condUCled using a glass-made transparent vacuwn chamber of 18 cm
di ame ter 20 cm heighl and a cubical box of 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm. The UV radi alions
were applied by fitting U V lamps on three sides of cubical box. The Experimental setup
is showll in Fig. 5.1.
Yac-uum c- hlInber
iDiameter:;; 18 cm )
cm)
./
,
-
-
AC
'"
Samples with applied
declric
/
,
-

--
.

t
I
(\ ' lamps
/ -.,
I


1
.!
j
. '
.
_ ..J
-.J ''\.
60 un el: 60 <IJl el: 60 (ln (,l"Unbl'l .t
Fig. 5. 1 Expertmentul !'eI "p.
Agitrg Im:es! iKClJ ian ofPo/ymerJe ln.mlal ors.
Ph. D TlreS/ .. UTTaxila. Parntan. May 2{}(J7
1/
1
I .
o
'l
1
Sample without
e1er tr ic str ess
72
5.2.1 Research design for studying pressure dependen ce of aging of
HTV SiR
Phase 1
Eight samples (pb tes) \\ere pl uccd i n he cubi cal box with LV of intcnsit y 5.2
m\V/cm' and 4.16 m\V/clll ' . Sampks E (clean) and UE (clean) were placed in 5.2 lll\V/cnf'
for 42 ays and t hcn "as chunged to 4.16 1ll \V 'CIll ' up to 49
'11
day as sho"l1 111
Tabl e ).1.
Table 5.1 Phase 1.
p .Of
Name 01 State 01 Size 01 I Pollution Duration UV radiation Size of
samples samples sample
sample I level
(days) chamber
(cm') (mg/cm') (mW/cm)
1
I
p1 Un-energized 8 x 11 0.17 35 5.2
-
2 p2 Un-energl zed 8 X 11 4.5 35
3 p3 Un-energl zed 8 x 11 6.8 35
4 p4 Un-energized 8 x 11 20 35
60cmx60
I
cm x 60 cm
5 Ep Energized 16 x 22 662 35
6 UEp Un-energized 16 x 22 862 35
7
E (elean)
Energlzed 16 x 22 O 42 7 5.2 4.16
8
UE (cl ean)
Un-energized 16 x 22 O 42 7 5.2 4.16
---
Pllase 2
Four samples (pl al es) \\ere pl aced i n glass Illad.: ,'aClIlI lll challl ber and Ihe
"acuu!11 chulllher \\as pl accd in (he cuhical hox as sho\\n i n tabk 5.2.
Tahk 5.:! 2.
I No. of
Name of
Size of Pollution
Duration
(days) plates samples
1 2 4x4
I 2
4 x4
4
4x 4
4 5 4x4
Agurg 'j\oC ,YlIg .HfQIJ nfPo/ymertc /n,w /lilors.
Ph O l E! .'lt'tJ/a. Pakislan . . \h,y 20lr
level
m Jc m' )
3 10
3 20
6.00
l
50 52 60
12.90
I
--- ---- - --'----'
7
' .,
Chnmr' r5 Elleel Q/ ( Jo' U(]dwri(!lu o/Id 0 1/ fi n' SI R 1/.'':('(/ as OUldoo( InflJlrllllJll
Phase 3
Thc lirs four sal11ples (pi ale s) \\cre placed in a vacuum chambcr which \Vas placed insidc
he cubrcal bo:\. lhe tifth sal11ple \\as placed in a VaCllllll1 chaJllba anu lhe ehal11bcr \Vas
placeu in a clcal sunshine as sho\\n in lable 5.J .
TabIe 5.3 Phase J.
I
Temperature
NO. of
Size of Electric
Duration Pressure
inside UV radiation
samples
sample stress
(days) (cm of Hg)
vacuum
(cm
2
) (mm/kV) chamber (mW/cm)
(cC)
1 4x4 35
.
2 4 x4 40
50 32
3.75
3 4x4 45
60
4
1
4x4 50
I
5
I
4x4 O

125 Sunshine
.
Phase 4
lhe fol lo\\"lng SIX samp!es which are ide ntified in Table 54 \\cre placeu rn a \acuum
chamber.
l. [)R W. PRll ancl PSH
2 PER W. PERB ami PES! !
.lgHr.: hn ....
NI D ltTTcudn. Pav<:Jc;Jn . . \fay Ylfr
74
Table 5.4 rilase 4.
on
Size of 1 Pressure Duration
Material of samplc samp e
sample (cm of Hg) (days) samples
}--.-
-- --
Wllhout electric
24 7
stress and solar 5cm x
IITV -SiR rod wilholll I\TII und
PRW radiation 30 cm
50 7
PRB
PSH
PERW
PERB
PESH
-
wit hollt til ler Ircat mclll
60 7
I Wi!houl e lectfic
24 7 HTV -siliconc rod containing
s tress and solar 5 cm x
si lica and A TI--!
radiation 30cm
50 7
60 7
Withou t eleclric
24 7 HTV-silicone plme
stress and solar 15 cm x
silica and i\ TrI
radlat ion 15 cm
50 7
60 7
Wllh elect ric 5 cm x
24 7
rod withollt ATH
sl ress 30cm
f--- -
f-.,
50 7
and ",ilholll filler surfaec
60 7
treatmen!
Wllh electric 5em x
24 7
I--!TV-silicone rod containing.
stress 30 cm 50 7
si lica and ATI-l
1
60 I
7
15 cm x
24 7
HTV -silicone plate conlaining
With electric 15 cm 50 7
si li ca and A TI-l
--'---
stress
60 7
-
5.3 Results and Discussion
The rcsul lS are presented and disc ussed lor sample, i",'csli gaI ed as part of phasc I
through 4.
5.3.1 Visualobservation
:-<0 cracking. cilalking. erosion and diseol rat ion were lound j I) all studics pcrtain ing lo
alllo Uf phases 16. 7],
-l,gmg 1m (,' "1 P"J)'mt'I"IC
Pi: D Th("l'IS l E TTa:r(a. Pah". um. \tay 2
f
ifr
75
[!Y.Jl1>1. l'r'" [{(a I ()I , '1' RadiOlio/t.J (j nd Pr'(Hllrt 011 Po(lfttf'(f/ HTI ' SiR lIscd (].f: (wJdoQr InmhfHQI{
5.3.2 FTIR
Agi ng callses changes in the structun:.' of local bono slructurc and various inlcraclio!1s
\\ilh other molcclIles ",ilh lime [5 ]. These changcs are idemified lIslng the rTIR
/\l II TIR calculaliolls are made according lO cqllalion 4.1.
5.3.3 Phases I and 2
% degradntion is 5ho\\ I1 in Table 5.5 .
Table 5.5 NUll1ber 01' day> oi' cxposlI re, po1111lioll level ami %age degradalions.
Sample (Days) Poll ution(mg/cm-) Dcgradation (%)
PI( 3)
I
0. 17 -6.7
rr2( 35) 4.5 -6.5
P31351
I
6.8 O
P4(35) 20
1
O
UEp(35) 8.62 O
I
Ep( 35 ) 8.62 O
_.
E clean (35) O -12.7
UE c1 ean (3 5)
.--t-
Q
--
-6.29
..
E c1 can (42) O -1 228
_.-
UE (42) O -8.66
E c1ean (491 O
-23.)8
1 UE c1ean( -1 9) O -20.94
11 is cl car Iroll1 Tabl e 5.5 lhat al 6.8 mg/ c 1ll
2
abQw 110 c1egradalion occurred.
( lean platc is degrading mor lhan un-energi zecl one. The pollulion "as
prepared usi ng TOl1oko 40 g ami sodiul11 chl oride 10 g per liter Of\\aler.
rabie 5.6 FTIR re, ults ofphase 2.
,-- Sample )
I
1'1'2(60)
PP3(60) I
PP4(60)
I
[ 1'1' 5(60)
Irzn .. 'S/Jgot 1l m of Pvlymer/c IlI.su(a(oo,.
Ph D ".'('SiJ. {ET ru .. :r:r Ja, Pa/amUl . . I/m 1110'"
Pull ut ion
(ruglc m
l
)
3.1
3.2
6
12.9
-
[
Dcgrada tion (%)
--
-9.7 156
- 15.38
-17.06
._.
I
O
76
CJrarlt'rJ F.ffecl o( VI" Radrqlior1S alld mI He(IVily PolJu(f!d.'llrmoUuted 1-/71/ SiR sed as outdoor Insulatum
5.3.4 Effect of electric stress on degradatioD
Rcfe rring to Table 5.5, the difrerence in degradation of energized und un-energized c\can
samples is shown in Fig. 5.2
8
6
4
2
o
30
Degradation Caused by Electric
Field
y = 56.427
e
-O 05""x
35 40 45
Number of Da s
Fig, 5.2 Degradalinn under eleclr-ic stress.
50
TIle Fi g. 5.2 (blue [ine) is an approximati on of original graph (black line) by an
exponential curve which can be expressed by equation Y=56.427e,00634X .Thi s shows that
differcncc is decreasing exponentially. implying that the effect af electric stress afta
sorne time may vani sh.
5.3.5 Age estimatioD
Data for samples E (c\ean) and lT (clean) \Vere rearranged as shown in Tables 5.7 and
5.8. 1\ trend line was passed through th,! data and age of material was estimated. The
accelerati on factor \Vas calculated keeping in v;ew the envlronrnent of Islamabad which is
summarized bcIow.
Average UV radiation applied for 24 hours = 5. 2 m W/cm
l
UV radiati oll at Islamabad = 1.098 rn Wcm
2
Aging 1m.esNRa. r/on o{ PoJymtric I nsul,Olors.
Ph. {) rhes!!:. e El' r a.rffa. PaXJsran. 20lr
77
Chapeer) Fffe('1 a(lJV Radioti(Jns and Prf-ssure 0 11 IIMyily Pollute4!UnnnllulpdHn' SiR u.ted ax nuldfKJ r In.mio/mn
Average sunshine daily al Islamabad = 8 hours
Acceleration is =[5.2/1. 098]- 3 = 14. 2
Average maximum temperatuIe al Islamabad 28 Oc.
Temperature kept for 24 hours = 35 oC.
Acceleration = 1.25 * 1.5 = 1.875
Acceleration Factor = 14.2 1.875 = 26.634
Number of 03yS

28 3E 42 49 56
Bhlt:FE( cltlUl)
,....
o
o
-- - lO
.:

-
.g
f - 1,
g
Sr. no.
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
21. 7.r:

Fig. 5.3 Degrada/ion ofUE (elean) und E( d eani wirh lime (%).
Table 5.7 E (cJean) : calcul ati ons fo r trend line.
Day X Y (%) x=X-X' v-Y-Y' x'
O O O
1
-3.5 9.2 12.25
I
7 1
-2.) 0 -2.5 6.7 6.25
14 2 -5.00 - 1. 5 4.2 2.25
21 3 -7.50 -0.5 1.7 0.25
28 4 -10.2 05 - 1 0. 25
35 5 - 12 .7 l.5 -3.5 2.25
42 6 12.2 2,5 -3 6.25
49 7 -23 .5 3. 5 -1 4.3 12.25
4'3. -21
49. -n.s
Xl'
-32.2
-1 6.75
-6.3
-0.85
-0.5
-5.25
-7.5
-50.05
where, X'= LX
8 -
.nd
y'= L r =Avemge
8
xy = - 11 94
.<Iging Imes/igo/i Q" o/ PoJymerjc InsulatGrJ'.
f h. /.J T/e,<ls, UF. TTaxila, Palas/an. May2007
=42
78
Elh'CI 0[[ "" Radmtiol1s Off" Pr!Hurt! (m f(eovt!>' PqllUled l :npoJUltcd HTI ' SI)? lLH!d as oMi/na" hl su/aIH7?
r .n = h = -2.843x
} "1 \_ \ ,)1; .12
'--
y-y -2X43(X-X')
y -2.843(X-X) - Y'
y - 0.7505 -- 2.4R3X
lor Y Il.kg.radali on (%)] = -75, X 30.5
.\0.5x7x26.634 1--7
,'\ge :::= = ).) ye::ors
- 365
Table 5.8 UE (elean): calclllalions for trend line o
Davs X Y x=X-X'
O O O -3.5
1 -1 .25 -1.5
14 2 -2.5 -1.5
21 3 -3. 75 I -0.5
28 4 -5.0 0.5

5 -6. 5 l.5
42 6 -8.5 2.5
49 7 -21. 0 3. 5
LX=28 IY= - 48.5 Ix= O
L.n := 98257.t= -2.34x
1 o::;f :r ;)x --1]
y -y ' : -2.34 ( X-X')
Y = -2 .3 4 (X-X' ) - y.
y = 2. 1275 - 2. 34X
For Y = -75, X = 32.96
32.96.<7.<26.634
Agc:;:::; = J6.83.n:tlr.\"
365
y=-Y-Y' X- x,'
6.0625 12.25 -21.22
4.8 125 6.25 - 12. 03
3. 5625 2.25 -5.344
2.3 125 0.25 -1.1 6
1.0625 0.25 0.531
-0.4375 2.25 -0.66
-2.4375 6.25 -6.094
-14. 9375 12.25 -52.28
Iy= O
b : =42
Lx\"=-98.257
,
[he cSl imalion (l !" life is "it!J rhe assumpt ion hm degradalion ocellrs at arme delennined
b,' lhe sJop,' nI' trend line. bUi in fael material r , lOres ils propCI1ies in a cyclic
manner. For exmnple, (ln 42' ''! da" lhe restoraiion oecurrcd r( 12. 7 - 12.n)11 2. 7]1 00 =3.3
%. If ihis is considered lhen liJe can be inr""sed by 3.3 %.
75 % change in absorption rati o is assumed [ O be the railure o!" inslIlating. material.
Aglng JIl"fO<:/igaflOfI o/ Pul\l1ll!r:c ! WfU(OWI"S .
I'h D Th('Sl\ l. fT T axria. (',AI.l'Ial1 .\ioj.
79
CIJatJIt!r5 :;/&CI (}fl lV glld Prusure OIllfeavilv PolI'drdlUnpgl/uted UTV tL',ed as ouldonr In.mlation.
5.3.6 Phase 3
SOUle of the FTIR results are shown in Fig. 5.4
neetrir Stross(mmlkV)
Fig. 5.4 Degrada/Ion ofsample as afune/iol1 of e/ecrric stres<.
It is clear from Fig. 5.4 tbal tbe samples have shown large degradation at stresses of 35
mm/ kV and SO nunlkV, whi le at 40 m.mIkV and 45 rnmlkV. almos! no degradation
occurred. This indicales that Ibere mi ght be an optimum value of eleclric slress for a
speci fi c material. For tbe material under iJ1Vesligation il is bet\veen 40 - 45 mm / kV. The
FTlR results of fi fth sample are shown in Table 5. 10.
Table 5. 10 Degradation of sU! Sample al a pressure of 50 cm Hg.
Sample exposure Absorption Cbange in absorplion ratio
(days) ralio ("lo)
Original (O) 0.92
70 0.92 O
-
95 0.92 -0.58
125 0.92 O
It is clear from rabie 5. 10 that tbe sanlples have sho\\TI no degradation which implies thal
lhe low pressure of 50 cm of Hg has no effect 00 material degradation. The four samples
under energi zed enditions have shown some degradation which seems lo be due 10
declric stress.
Aging o/ Polymeric 1".'iIIlaJors.
Ph D l/U TCLT; /a, Pgk((JtI. May 200i
80
( har.'l:r5 E(kCI ()( (.' 1' RtuflCl /(Qm ami Pre,(,'qlre {Jn Hi!m'j(v Poltlllcd, Crr;olluled HTl' SiR use.d (I.\" owdQnr I nsulatJQn
5.3.7 Phase 4
ITlR n;wlts re silo\\ n in Tabl cs 5. 11 and 5.12.
Tablc 5.11 Dcgradation oI lhe sJmples.
.-
J
Ab\nrplinn rltin (" 11 :',11':(' in alNlI" pljon Ltliu (%l 01! t"(ll l0"
uf np. al
1.0\ \


I PER\\
PR\\
PICHUf
0 -'
'.
I O',
:1" 4 cm 01
Hg 078
1 0.6,
S- Oc ln of
Hl! 0 66 0 .6 l
Mcmot
I
O
PE.'
091
079
U VI
Pl\B PSH PERH PRW r ERW PSi , I>R B PSI I
"
092 n72
I
() S5 ro q2
08' 9.01 11 .S3 .!' '8
1 -
9 .8 0':;0
084 091 tJ 92 1.63 -1387
l '
6 -16 0 j ,
1'0.32
00;;11 n 91
I
-303
;
-_.-
Table 5. 12 IJegradal joll of lhe samples.
Absorpti on ratio
Changc in absorption ratio
(%)
Samplc Sarnpl e Sample Samplc Sample
PER3
5 &-l
.0 132
Duration
of
exposure
at low
prcssurc
(days)

- j '
l'SSRB PSSP PSSR\V PSS RB PSSP PSSR\V
___ ___ -+ ____ t--___ --j
0.92 0,92 0.72
50 cm of Hg 0.92 0.92 0.57 o o -21 70
I -058
-7.29 95
-4.59 O -1 6.46
5Dcm of llg 0.92 0.92 0.67 I
50 cm of Hg
i . _ _ --'-__ --" _ _ --'-. __ _____ .L-__ -'-___ -'
II is from Tab1c 5.1 1 tha! for lhe :;amplc PR\\' o Iherc is a decrcasc in lil e "percenlage
... hnl/g 01 Pof\m;:rc I!.' ,\"U/mol".(.
p l [) Ta..\ rla, P:Jwuon .\ h ll 21)1) -
81
(di\\ s)
(17
1)7
Oi
-
,
,
Choo,'(!}- j Efft!.:I el er' RodlfJli011.S and PJ' e.'r,fllrc! (}I r tlf O\''''i Po/hae" C'n/?6f1r led flTI' SiR Il fed eH oll ldQor I luJll q".o"
ch,mge in ab:-;orpti oll rallo" as "'e IIlcrczse the pressure. As \\'e go dosc to normal
mmospheric preSSlIre, rhe degradalion almost linear l). 'mm lhe samplc PER \V.
ir \\-as that \Vith the inerease in pressure, thcrc is an inerease of the percenwgc
changc in ahsorpt i.on rilti o. Comparcd lO un-energi zed sample. Ihe degradatiull lI1ereases
\\'hich 1l1ean, thul d ccrric stress has acccl cratcd degradarion.
[1 is elear Ilwt for slmpl e PRB. " 'ilh the increase in pressurc there is a decrease of lhe
rercent,lge change in ahsorption rati o. hut for sal11ple PERI3 "ith lhe increase in pressure
i:-:; a 01' the pcrcenlage chunge in absorpti on rati o.
For sample PSH. it "as noticed that \\ ith the inercasc in prcssure varying froIll 24 cm of
I-Ig 10 50 Cm uf 1 [g, Ihere is an inerease 01' the pen:enwge change in ahsorpti on ratio hut
as the pressur incrcases frolll 50 cm of I lg to 60 cm of Hg. thcre is a decreasc 01' the
change .i n absorptioll ratio.
For sample PESIl. \Vith the increase in rreSSllre there is a decrease o[ lhe pcrccntage
ehange in absorption ratio. i\ S comparcd lO un-energiZd sample. the encrgi zed sall1ple is
sho\\ ing more degradation indieming thereby that elect ric stress has the accclerming
cUcet.
lt is ob"ious l'rorn 'J'able 5.12. tl1at liT\!- SiR rod \\ thou! . \ TI I and ,\ithout tiller surfircc
treat ment is degrading more cOI11 pared \\i th HTV-sili cone rod cont ai ning siliea and ATII
and HrV-si licone pl ate comaining silica and />.TII.
5.4 Hydrophobicity
5,4,1 Phases 1 and 2
The results ofhydropbobicity ofth samples used in pha'e I are sho\\n in rig. 5,5 .
. /mt'w?'(I {I(ln nt'Po(vml?nc
82
PI D "t::.H;; (ET Tmh? f'atulcm .. \1(;) ] (/1;-
rhlJOIf! ,-j Fftrc( o( UY Rad;ations ami Pressure 0 17 Heqy}y PoI lUledlL'noolluff d 1fT!' SiR u,,'C'd as ouldnnr II/sula/irm
(a) Sample PI !D. 17mg/cm' ) (b) Sample P2 (4.5 mg!cm]).
(c)Sample P 3 (6.8 mgfcm2). {d;Sample P4 (20 mrfcm2).
(g) Sample VE c/ea1!S (h) Sample E elean
Hg. 5.5 STRl hydrop/'obicily o/ somple., "sed in phase l.
The results of hydrophobicity of sHmples used in Pha.\e 2 are shown in Fig. 5.6.
(b) PPI (J. lmGlem]) Al1gle 55" Angle n ", co"/ac/ angle I uf
Agit/g Qf PalYrf,eric fU'uIUlon,
Ph D n re$l.s, t U hulla. Pakistan. May 2{)()7
83
Chap'4!. r5 f ffecl oi'l/JI Radia/in,.", .. UfW PreulITt> Ptr Ifeavilv PoIllllrdlUnPIIU1fd IITV SiR used as nuldnor I"SU/' /OII
(e) PP2 (J.2nrgjcnr') Angl. 65 Angle 64 ' . Con/ael angle 115.5'
(d) PPJ (6. 0 nrg/em' ) Angle 72' Angle 72", COII/ael ang/e 101!'
.
lo ,t,_ ,
.. .
- L l'
(a) PP4 (l2. 9mgjcm') AlIgl. 61 " Angle 6.5", COJJlaclangle 111'
f ig. 5.6 Hydrophobicity oJsomples l<sed in Pilase 2 using liquid droplel mel hod,.
Table 5. 13 Hydrophobicity classifications ol' samples used in phase 1 (4).
Contact Sample dCI,l0si t Hydropbobicity c1ass Absorption peak at
angle (mg/cm') 1258
(degree)
121 P1 0. 17 HC 1-2 0.2 17
122 P2 (4.5) !-le 1-2 0.219
130 P3 (6.8) He 1 0.287
140 P4 (20) He l 0.262
11 5 UE (8.62) He I 0.258
109 E (8.62) He 2 0.211
- UE (clean) HC l 0. 267
- E (c1ean) He 1 0.288
It s clear from !he hydrophob ciry records from Table 5. \3 that no sample losl
hydrophobici ty and according to STRl hydropbobcity c1assification, !he maleri al
rema ned in HCI-2 [4. 5] . Contact angle was measured by li quid droplet method. A drop
of water \Vas dropped 0 11 !he sample and photographed by digital camera and the image
was con verted ioto black and wrute photograph using Mat lab 1mage processing tool and
contact angle was measlU'ed using Adobe measuring tool as shown in Fig. 5.6.
01 Po/ymeric I Jlsulalors,
Pi>. n Th",'.t. uer T ",,la. Pokislan. I(ay 2007
84
Chamer5 CffrCI of UF RadiariOfls and Prf!i."iUT! mr ffeavily Poll llledlUrrpoiluled I In' SiR IIsed as outdoor Insulalir!!l
5.4.2 Phase 3
The results of hydrophobicity of lhe samples were measured afler 60 days. These were
kept in vaCUllffi chamber al a pressure of 50 cm of Hg, temperature of 30 Oc and UV
radiation of 3.75 mW/cm
2
The hydrophobicity was found by liquid drop melhod because
lhe size 01" samples was smal!. A drop of lap waler was dropped on Ihe sample and
photographed by a digital camera. Using Matlab tools Ihe noise in Ihe photo was removed
and the resultanl image \Vas converted into black and while photograph and lhen angles
were measured usi ng measuring 1001 of Adobe Writer as shown in Fig. 5.7.
Angle 60.61' Angla 59. 16
Original (ConIGC/ Angla 120..0.85 o)
Angle 60. Angla 60. .
(b) 40. mm/kV (Comacl Anglo I J9.23)
Angle 65. 7)" An::le 60.. tf'
(e) 45 mm/kV (Conlacl Angl. 116.795 ")
Aging of Polymu ic huu1atnrs ,
P/. D The.fls, C'F.T Ta.:r: fJa, Pa*is!cllt . . \.fay 2oo7
85
[ ""el o[ UV Radia/ion"" and Prf.'j.\"ure mI ffeqyjly rrrv SiR l/sed as outdnor
Al/g/e 67.8<f' Angle 6/.3/"
(d) 50 mmfkV (Con/ael Al/g/e 1/ 5 . .f)
Fig. 5.7 COn/Qel AI/gles ofsomples in Phau 3.
As shown by Ihe FTIR resuIts, !he ma.'IimulD degradaton occurred al 35 mm/kV and 50
mmlkV and a1most no degradation occurred al 40 mm/kV and 45 mm/kV, lhe contact
angles are found in accordance with Ihe FTIR resul ts.
The hydrophobicity of sample 5 i5 5hown in f ig. 5.8. The STRl hydrophobicity
c1assi fication was used to determine lhe surface hydrophobicity of samples [4, 5).
The sample has shown no degradation and is obviously in class He !.
Fig. 5.8 Hydrophnhiciry nf sample 5 afier / 25 den>.
rhe reslllts of FTIR and hydrophobicity classification match wilh each olher.
5.4.3 Phase 4
The resulls of Ihe hydrophobicity of!he samples ailer seven days and 125 days in
vacuum chamber al a pressure of 50 cm of Hg are shO\vn in Fig. 5.9.
fging lt1\'esrigalfort ofPoJymerlc In:ml/(N"S,
Ph. D ro"is. UF:T Ta:t.i1a. Paldslon. Muy 1()()?
86
COOpte,.5 F.(kcl o( L/V Rodialif1f/.S and Pre.'l.fUl' (In /-Ieav;/y P911wedlUI1f?OIJuted 1171' SiR us/!d as nuldoor
HTV-silicone plote contaln;ng silieo an ATH ajlu 7 days.
HTV-silicone rad con/aining si/lea and ATH ajier 7 doys.
HTV- SiR roo wilhoUI ATH and withoul filler surface !re.lmenl .f\er 7 days.
HTV- SiR rad Wi/Mut ATH alld wilhow filler suifa(:e trea/me'" ajier / 25 doy .
HTV-silicone rod con/ aining silm and ATtI ajla 12) doy .
HTV-silicone ptale cOluaitting .rilica cmd .1TH afler 125 day.t .
Fig. 5.9 Hydrophobid ty of solllpl.s in Phase 4 .
.. 1gillg 01 Palymtric fnJu}alors,
P' O TJuw$, UEl' Ta.(lla, PakiSI(1J1. May 2007
87
t.''U (JI l Nadwl /fJtl.r nnd Prt'."Jw.t" QI1 l/U ,.." }' Ppllllted'Cnpollurl?d HI"V . rR 0-'" ;rdo r / 11 ularJf)f1
Thc results sho'" thm samples did nor lose the hydrophobici ty and fall in l l e 1 accordi ng
to STRI hydrophobicitv c1assillcation [4, 5J,
5.5 SEM
5.5.1 Phase 3
SE:Vl rnicrographs of samples at different magnificaliol1s, 200x ( Icm =100 flm), 500x
(1 cln = SO anel 800x (Icm = 20 ,um) are sho\\ l1 il1 [ig, 5,JO for samples at 35
mmlk\', 40 mm/kV and 45 mm'kV, It is c1ear lhm the surface has become rough but no
crack \las ()hscncd, Howevcr. lhe surl'acc morphology (shape, sil," ami the arrangement
ol' lhe particles on surface ol' lhe sample) appears to change ",i th stress, lt was also nOlecl
that slIrfacc bccomes rough and lhe fil ler di spersiol1 more non-homogeneous wiLh t he
decrease in stress, The surface inlegration is increasing ",ith more lumpecl p<u1i clcs ",i lh
the decrease in stress,
21)0"
. . '. . .
'. ' .. '.
J
: ... -.
. - .,.
- '---':=_-','
JOU.\'
l OOx
A, I ltg of Polymer c /nsldalOrJ.
Ph D L ET To1.xt!r,'. PallisJaIJ .\luy Y;(j-
500,
fa) ()!"/R, lnal
t" ... '
-, ,,,. ...
'. ... .
,.. :
,,".... .
..... JI
" -
_ " "":
500"
fb) 35 mm-K I
500"
f
el
-l O l1 un:'fd:
,lOOr
JOUx 500x
(d) '/5 mm/ kV
. .
.. .
. . .
.. ' , -..
""
. . '
- .....
Fig. S.IO SE.\1 / ;:JUIU' P:w>c' 3.
As compared lO Ihe ori gi nal. ns the sl ress decreases from 35 mm/kV to 45 mm/k V. the
roughness inereases Ivhich does not match " ilh Ihe results 01' FTl R and hydrophobicit v.
lending thereby lo the eonclusion lhal roughness may inerease "ithout actual degradati on.
Such t)'pes of apparently contradicting result s IWl' e been reportcd by other researcher,
sludl ing silicone rubbcr [8, 9J " 'here signi fi canl morpholog)' changes \Vere observed by
, -ral difCract ion (XRD) but the same 11 as not supporl ed b) lhe corresponding changes in
either leakage current 0 1' FTIR- peak height>. In anol her $Iudv by Raj i Sundararajan et al
in whicb bigher lcakagc cu rrenl acti,it) lI as supporti ng the SeY result s "hile FTI R
slud) results and STRI hydrophohici t' c1Jssifieatioll ll'cre on lh" contrary[9].
5.6 Conclusions
From the slud)' pil ases and 2. il 11 as lound that IIp lO poll ution level of 4.5 mg/crn
2
. e-v
radi at ioJ1s has caused degradation. At 6.8 mg
1
cm
2
and abol 'c no dcgradali on occurred.
Accord ingly. it may be safel y concl uded that a thid: pollll lion layer of 6.5 mg/cm
2
al1d
abo\ e may 3Ct as protecti on against tile ad""rse creects of L' V radiat ions.
Tilo poJl uted platcs (8.62 mgcl11'): one energiLed und lhe otller un-energil,ed shol\'ed no
degradat ion. On lhe other hand. 111 0 clean plates: one energiLed and the other un-
energized expericnccd J egradati on. Energized plute (clean) degraded (-1 2.7 %) more lhan
the energized (d ean) one (-6.29 %) which 5holl' s that d cctrie st ress has an accclerating
damagi ng elTecl. f\I I these findings lead ro rhe conclus ion that a th ick layer ol' 6.5rng/cm
2
and may act as shicld aga inst the damaging effeet of ti V radiat ion .
. -Igrng b,\"t!'511f.!C1./(O'l oj l' ()!ymuic. I nsul':l1on'.
PI D CEl TUlie/o. PaAo"f(ln .. \.Ja.\ 2flO -
89
lsing lhe Ji fe cxpeclancy 1ll0deJ fram acceleraled aging. the cnergizecl and un-energizcd
, ilicone rubber inslI lators \\"e re estilllated to last in the prevailing environment for 15.57
)'ears ane! 16.83 years. re specti,ely.
l h.: cfreet of LV racliati on at lo\\" atmospheric presslI re of 50 cm 01' Hg is a hit more thun
ut 72.2 cm 01' Ilg. I-1o\Vcvcr. from lhe reslIlts in Phasc 3. it muy be conclllded that 10\\
of 50 cm 01' Hg has no appreciable elrect on the degradation 01' I-ITV- SiR \\ ilh
Silica and ATII. It appcars therefore. that from agi ng perspective. thi s malerial lllay be
quite slIitable ['Jr high-altitllde applications.
11 is fou nd 1'Olll the reslllt s of Phase 4 that I n 'V-SiR ",ilh sil ica and }\ TlI performs bcttcr
than HTV \\ ithollt si li cone und \\ ithout li ller surl:lce
Ufct of 1<1\\ l'ressure on dcgradation 01' HTV ",ithaut sil icone and witholll lill er slIrlilce
treatmenl i$ qlLi le pranollneed, The maximum degraclation of a plate (-15.4 % ) occurrcd
in a Til e effect of 10\\ prcssure in the presence of ckctric stress is slightl y higher
(- 15,7 '%),
5.7 References
[11 T. Ka\\ amura, 'VI. I, hii, .\'1. .'\ kbar ami K, ]\clgai. " Pres\ u!'1' dcpcndencl! o[ 1)('
nreakdu\rn ofconlun'i/lII"d nI/tIolh,r ', J FEE T ransact ions on l-:lcclrical I nsulat ion,
\'o\. 1.1-1 7. :-\0,1. Fehruar" 1982,
f21 Pakislan l'vleteoral ogical Dcpartment hup: //\\w\, ,meLgO\ ,pk.
i
f,11 M,A.R 'V!anjula Fernando " Pri'(o r!i1W1Ge 01' II'J/J-cer olll/ic il/sl/lollorS in lropical
CJ/\' rOI1/IlC!7ls" Thesi s Pil , D, Depanmem of Flcc trical Po\\'er Engineering, Cha lmers
Un; ver, ; ty O f lec hnology, Gotenborg, S\, cden 1999
[4) II)drophobicity Cbssificmion, STRI Guidc 92 ' 1.
[51 l \\' , Chang and R,S, GoruL "[he role (Jf backhDl/e choin I'Olalio/1 in Ihe
hydrophohicily n!COl.'ci )' 01 )o/) iil::'l'ic !Ho((!)"ia/ ) .fOI" ouuloor SUlalion", Proc.
,-Jp rg hl\'t'w!!orr(l J; o!Pn(yml"rI L / nsll lalor:s. 90
PI D TJrr'w. t El Pokl,s!<lI/ . . ]/}()-
IEEE Inl. on condllction and breakdo\\tl in solid dielectric, pp, 270-275.
1992,
1'6J Burnham. Jcfl, "C1uidelillc fr)r \'i.\liol iue,,/ijiCII/io!i oj'donlilgcd jJolyl7lcr insula/o!'5'-- ,
TTJ ll smission ekpartI11enl. Juno 13each, 1998,
[7.1 "Gudc!ii?e ./ visual idei1lijicufon (?f delerioraloi1 and damoges 011 ,\"ll.\"pension
comjJosUc nsula/or;'. STRJ Guide 5. 2003,
[8] 1-1 . \-1. Schniecler. \V, W, GlIidi, .J.T Burrnllam. R. S. Gorur and .r. F. Hall.
--Acce!i'i'iI/cd aging Oi/U flash",'cr tesis O!'7 138 kV non-ceramic /ine !JOs/ nsula/or'
IEEE Trans, I'o\\'er Del. Vol. 8. pp, 325-336, 1993.
[9] Raji SlIndararaj an . Esaki SOll llebrajatl . i\reef ,'y[uhammad and Jason Graves." ,Hul/i
slrc.'.\ acce/erall!d ogiJlg o/ po/ymeric hUI/sed surge! CIrresten; une/el' 5:imltlaec!
('00.1'101 .jore/a cond/ions ". IEEE lransactions on Dielectrics il nd Electrical
Insulation. Vol . 13, No. l. pp, 21 1-226. Fcbruary 2006,
r 101 :vluhammad Alllin anel :'vluha1llmad AkbaL of [iV-radia/ion\' on heu\'ily
pollwed/ linpol! u/ed jJo/Jmer ie ll.\ IIla/ ors" Proceedi ngs of 2nd IEEE
l nt crnati onal Conference on Emerging
(ICEll. Pesha",ar. l'aki ,tal1, \'o\'E' mber 13-14.2006,
.. fgmg /lH'I!Sfig, a /j() of Po/)'menc I nsrrld,' nts.
91
PI D T!H'S1.'i . l E T Taxi/o, .\.fa,\ 2(YT
(JumJi!T 6
Chapter 6
Aging of Polyrneric Insulators in Simulated
Environment of Pakistan
6. 1 Introduction
(h'er the \'ears the voltage !e\'e1 01' pO\\cr transmission net\vork has expcricnced
subslantial ri se, \Vit h Ihis Irend il can hardl y be expeclcd to ha\e a practical unclerground
Irans l11i ssion network duc 10 se\'ere problem" oC heat accul1lulation even ir insul al on
probllns are rc<;olvccl, Moreo,er. Ihe underground systcrn is uneconomical both from Ihe
stand-poin" 01' initial co,t as \\ell as subsequen\ Ill ainl enance, It can therefore, bt' safely
stated that \\e \Vi ii have to Iive \\ ith o\'erhead transmissi on nelwork in the flllurc where
insubtnrs \\ ill continut' to playa key role for safe and effi cient power transmi ssion,
nlerefore, impro\'cment of insulators and Ineir material. reduction of Iheir coSI, rcduced
l11ainlenance and increasi ng Iheir rel iability Jre major concerns 01' Ihe fllture,
polYl11eric instlla!or is !he sub,ec\ 01' intcrnal ional rcsearch cfforl s due to several tcchnical
it offers over con\ ceramic insulutor, lhe en\ ironmcnl- sen5itivilY i5
IhL' main !'OClIS, [n the prcsent \\ork, the QlIthnr studie lhe dfecl of prevailing Pakistani
en\ironment on lile aging 01' pol\meric inslI lator thr ugh Iabor:llory simulation,
In Pakislan, the majar transmi ssion lines originare from Tarbela h,dcl 51ation anel go aJl
Ihe \\a) lO Karachi covcring a diSlanc.c of o\'cr 2000 kl11 ,On lhe \\a\, Jincs pass through
arcas lJiI\ ing differcnl en\ironmcnlJl condit ions, lhe ma,\i mul11 lel11peralure from
Tarbela 10 .fhelllm vmies bel\\een 35- 40 uc: frol11 Jhelum !O Hyderabad bet wccn 40- 52
"C: and from 1 [vderabad lO Karachi, lh li nes experien('c c(lastal polllllon, Lines fro lll
Bhasba dam are also under consideratioll \\-hch will pass through rold 11l01llltainollS arca,
In\-lIlti1lio Qi PoJn'1t:nc In:sul.-tlors.
.. ) -L 'Ff rn.\"!I ,r. -j '(lkn-/tm . . \10.\
92
Agl'lg of PQ1\JmeYlc '-sulo/o/s m Slmlffat i.'d fndrumllf,' nl a ( O[PCJI.fIlaf1
Tbis gives (ve different reglons witb respeet to environment. Accordingly, polymeric
insulators \\'ere aged in tive differelH environments representing conditions of tbe tve
rcgions in Pakist ll1.
6.2 Need 01' Multi-sfress Accelerafed Aging
Polymers being organic in nature are 1110re susceptible to degradation and agmg ll-81.
Performing aging test under prevailing environment one by one on the surface 01'
insulators does not reproduce the actual outdoor conditions \vhere several environmcntal
Siresses aet togethcr [9], This necessitates lhat lo be realistic' aging of polymeric
insulators must be earried out under multi-stress conditions for any long-term
performance assessment [10, 1 1]. rhe enVironJl1ent31 stresses wbicb could
simult3n01lsly cause aging inelude LV radiati an. rain. heat . clcar mist and salt fog. In
multi-stress aging artificial c1imat ic conditi ons matching lO in-serviee conditions are
appllcd in a pre-detcrl11inecl norl11 <1 I or accelerate" nl Oln nCr to simulate weather cycles
0\ er the years. Yo produce different regional condit ions, d fferenl sets ol' combination of
t: V light. clcctrical stress. heat. and moislure \\'r made and measurements
\Vere made using sensitive eguipmen\. As al] tbese condi tions can not be obtained ane!
maintained at a prc-set level in an open em ironment. lb" mulli-stress aging is al"avs
earricd out in a eloscd pcriphcr\. 1t ma\ be in a chambcr at a 10\\ voltage leve! 01' in a
largc roum on large insulator designed 1(r high \ oltagc appli calions. In this slud). lhe
aU1lar utili/cd a 1 m
3
sl11all chamber of acryli c glass measuri ng I m x 1 m x 1 m.
6.3 Experimental Setup
s\udy was done uSll1g a 1111
3
chamber m \\ hich tWt) rods: (lne energized. one un-
energizcd, t\\ll rlates: one cncrgizd and one un-encrgi zE'd. and t\\'O assembled practical
insulators: unc cncrgizcd ancl other un-energi zcd ",ere placed. lhe applicd voItagc \\as
10 kV. The Lxpcrimcntal sctup is sho\\n in ligo 6.1.
Agmg Inn' JJI$!OUOIT Jf P O(lmeYU: bwdotors.
Ph n lJ('fh I Fr Tauta. P(, kl.\wJ!.I Jo.'
93
,l g/&, q{f v!l'Il/ait: I mu(a/Ol'.f In Simlllcultd r.:"Wirumlllll1lt:l o[Pah'i /(JJ
Tramiformr
n o 111 KV
MuUI l AP
CATA AC8.J SfTlON
3":'STE,V
Fogl Hum;c' ,ty

-1 K
Temperaturc
Meter
Hmru,lit:-

uv
WoGdcn
Supporting
Rld:5

CQntr"Jller
J-i , ' different envi ,-onments which ",ere si mulalcd summGrizcd in l ablc 6.1.
Table 6. 1 Environmenwl cveles for L1i ff"rent regions of Pakistan.
- -
_.
I Tempel' ature Pitase
(oC)
1 35
I
-
2 40
,
45
4 35
5 -16
Im''\!'lg,W(lli oJl'nl. .. :mi!ru: "Sld OI(ln,
Ph n Tlh"J h ( ET Ta.rdi7 Pa!.:'SI(.lfl ,\Im 2f1(-
Rc latin L:V
I
Applied vol tage
r adiari on for all sam pies
( 'Yo) (mWlcm") (kV)
70 O
60
-
45 7.40 , 10
70 7.40
I
75 16.65
1
94
ChfJIer ti ..Jging o( Pol ymerlc 11lsufal Qn /YI,'JnHdo,ed EmJr (lIIm/!l1m! o{f'akHw/I
f'h1l.le ! ((lid 2 Inlcnded lO simulare tlle c10udylrainv days \\hich are about 20 % of the
Ym [1 2J.
f'hasc J [ntended lO simulate tll e climale of Tarbd a to IIyucrabad. Pakistan.
['hase -! lntendcd to simulate lile climatc 01' conslal ared from Hyderabnd to Karachi.
f' !wse 5 Intendeclt o simul ate the cl imate of (jilgit and other c(lld areas 01' Paki stan
:\11 phases llave duration oC 36 days eaeh and a\llhe si x tes t spcci mcns listeu in scction
5.4 "'ere used in cach of five phases.
6.4 Test Spccimens
6.4.1 Type of specimens
l. IIl V-sil iconc rod containing silica and A lH ({ 'l1-cnergizcd 300 mm x 30 mm).
2. 111Vs\icone containing ,i lica 2nd ;\TH (Un-cnergi;eu 220 mm x 160 mm) .
3. 1 !lV-sil icone rod cont aining ,ilica alld /\'111 (Encrgized 300 mm x 30 mm).
4. !llV-si licol1c pble cont aining sil ica and TI[ (Energized 220 mm x 160 mm).
5. IIT\!- sil icone conlai ning silica and t\ 1 11 (Un-energi zcd) .
6. HTV-silicone containing si licJ and A TI I (Energized).
l he gcol1lclricaJ panuneter, of insul alor are gi \ en in Tahl e (;.2.
Tabk 6.2 Parallllers of insula[()f l E 12 1-SL050-SI3).
j
Scc
Insulator len
"" """"
':rp,,",g, I Cm .
Dstance Dia 01" sheds
gth distance d a .'\o of
I
bclwcen (mm)
m) (mm) (mm) shcds , hcds (mm)
1 I 446 I 28 4- --5
L-L L-S Large Small
60 30 154 106
6.5 Test Proccdure
Samples "er placed in chamba at l di stance 01' 8 CIll [mm L' \! lalllps and were
energized at 10 kV frorn 220 VIO kV_ J kVi-\ singlc-plwse Ira nsformer. I-JUlllidi ly "as
,-igmg 01 P nl.FlfJfr/(" /m .. ulalvTS.
Ph n Tllr!sr\ {F.T Tm:dfl. PaJ:is/C/lt . . \Ja.t ]fJO-:-
95
I
,naintained by using ultrasonic humidifi cr. Salt fog \Vas produced by dissolving 10 g of
:idlt in one liter oC \.valer in the humidifier. The temperature \Vas mainlained with lhe help
(jf consisting o!' a thertllOSlal and a healing plate, Lo\\' tempcrture
(phase 5) \\'as conducted in a deep freezer fitted "ilh LV lamps,
6.6 Acceleration Factor
:\ccclcraliol1 luctor i5 defined as the rati o of stresses applied in multi-stress testing lO the
stresses cncountered in actual fic ld conditions , If th is ratio is kepl sma lL more reliabk
res ulls are' but relati ng to short-tcrm life, If th is rati o is made higher, the results
achieved ma\ have higher probabi lili es of dcviati oll from the actual behavior. but ma\
correspond lc\ long-tcrm sen' ice period in open enviml1J11ent. In olher ,,"ords, acceleration
lactor rclat es to intensity of st resses upplicd,
6.6.1 Acceleration factor trcnd used
In thi s stlld:, insulators \Vere aged in 11\'c difIerent e,'\. pcrimental setllps in which
acceleration lactor \Vas kt!pl corlst<ll11 for lirsl tl ve du\ s , und thcn graclually increascd lO
\\'orSl conditions IIp to 20,h cla)', FrOnl 2 1" day 10 30,h da\, the acceleration fact or \Vas
decreased back to the level \\ hich \' .. a' at the end of firs! !l\ e Juys and then kept constant
for last six days, II \Vas intended to apply the \\orSl conditions sandwichcd in normal
conditi ol1s as thi s more c10sely relates (() actual \\ eal her c,'de in Paki stan,
6.6.2 Calculation of acceleration factor for each phasc
Pilases 1 and 2 were intcnded 10 simulare tbe c10udy rain: da\;; \\ilich arc abollt 20 % of
tile year [ 121 during \\hich LV radiati Oll s ,an !l0\ reach cart il , Average humidit v
during rain i5 usually less because all rnoisturo in lhe ai r or g;l$ (humidity) comes on th e
earth and its average value can be aken as 45 %. but it \\as appli ed 70 % in phase 1, The
uece1eratioll is accordingly 70,'45 =1.55, Aver; ge temperature during ra rn Ir] slI rnrner
Igmg ofrQ(vnleJ"l c Insul/lorJ
1'11 D 77tl!HS 1.. J-TTa;r:/}(o'. . .llo.\ ]{j(r
96
.-fgfng Q(Polvwrmt Inslt!.arors fl SlIIlIllerul Era'irtlmwmtal o( PalmH'l'l
rClllai ns 22 "e [ 13 [ vv hile the appl icd tcmperalure 35 Oc and hencc lhe accekmtion 1S
35.' 22 1.6.
r or phase 3 which was intcnded lO simulate the c1i111ate ofTarbela lO Hyderahad. the LV
radiations of 7.4 mW /cn/ "ere applied for hours per day so lhe aeeeleration duc lO
LV radialolJ "as [7.4/1.098][18 /8 J = 15.1. The average LV intensity ofPaki stan is 1. 098
rnWlcrn' [141. Ternpcrature appliecl 'las 48 "c: and the lllaXimU111 average te111perature of
lhe region is 28 Oc [CiJ. so the accderation is 48/28 = 1. 71.
For phase -1 the acceleration fact or was J 9. ror phase 5, the LV racli ati on level \\ 'as
increascd lO X.3 IllW/ cm
2
since al high-alli tucl e. the LV radialions are stronger and
theref()rc. accdcration duc to LV radiali on \Vas 18.675. The low tel11peralure applied \\' a;;
-1 6" C and laking trcczing poi nI a, refercnce, the accekralion \Vas -16/-4 = 4. The
humi ditv' kept was 75 %. ",hile average in (' (l Id areas vv'hcn temperature is Ver} lo\\', it is
20 % '0 the accderali on is 75.' 20 = 3.75, The overall acceleration factor 1'01' thi s phase is
18.675 " 3.75 - 4 74.07. :\0" lhe oV'erall average 3cceleral ion factor 01' all the fiv e
phases is 25.6. In lhi s way. 180 days laboralory study bccmes lO abollt 12.67
years of iield cxpcricncc.
6.7 Results and Discussion
6.7.1 Visual observation results
:\0 maj or fa ilul'e or dcgradati o!1 \Vas found [15 . 16].
There was no noticeablc cJl alking. cracki ng. erosiono 01' <In,. olher kind of scrioll s
degradation in any sample.
:\0 change of color \Vas fOllnd.
6.7.2 FTIR results
-tglli bl ;'Ui{g(l/((Ht oI Poiymi!rrc
PI, D ThC<;f" 1 Er J (Ix/frs. Pali. islOI/ . .L. I(/.'-' :. ro-
97
Chapler 6 Aging QfPQlyrnr.riq lm ulmor.v in Simula/M 6"v;ronmentaJ o(Pakisran
Aging causes changes in local bond structure and various inleractions with other
molecules with time [9]. Tbe results of FfIR for various phases are shown in the Fig. 6.2.
4
~
'te -6
-
= -8
Q
;::
lO -1 0
"CI
f -12
g : ~ : j
-1 8
- 20
Degradation in var ious samples (%)
PUS. Plus. PUse Plus. 1' ......
1 2 3 4 5
--- EnergiZC'd rOO
-+- lIn-enagi7J.:d r(ld
---+- EnttgjD:d plale
Un-<ncrgizcd piare
[ tlcrgi:zcd insu}uor
.....- Un-cnergizcd insululOr
Fig. 6.2 Degrado/ion oJ sample.,.
From Fig. 6.2 for Pbase J, the maximum degradation occurred in lhe energized insulator
(-3.72 %) and the minimum degradaon occurred in thi: un-eoergzed insul ator (-1.05 %).
The un-energi zed pi ate (-2.72 %) is degrading more Ihan energized plate (-1.5 %) The
plale behaves different than rod and insulator. Overall degradation of samples is not any
significant.
For phase 2, the maxinJwn degradation occurred in energized rod which is -6.33 %. The
assembled insulators have restored their properties. Here !he behavior of plate is he same
as that of the rod and insuJalor i.e. !he energized sample of each type degraded more than
its un-energized counterpart. Overall degradation of each sample is greater lhan that
found in phase 1 but slill il is no! significant.
For phase 3. the maximwn degradation occurred in energized rod which is -6.48 % while
plate and the insu] ator are resloring. Here. rod is again behaving differeny. However
overall degradation is nOl much (about -6 %) .
. Jging I m'iwlgallQtJ 01 Polymeric hrsulalol'S'.
Ph. {) Thpsis. UET Taxi/a. Pokrrran. Hay 2007
98
drmw J){ Po/\morlc 1t1 SWJ1(lalf d F)u'r,w:t?/l lal qfPaJ,'IJlu'J/
r or phase 4. the maxi mllm degraebt ion ocellrred in un-energi zec\ plate which is -13.7 %
\\hi k rod is rcstoring ami the inSll lator is degrac\i ng. Here. all lln-energi 7.cd sampks
oegraded more than energi/.ed ones. Ho\\ ever. the 0\ erall degrac\ mi on is agai n not
signilicant. For phase 5. the maxirn um c\egradation occurred in lhe un-cnergi/ed plate (-
17. 7 %) . It \\'as less both Cor rod ami asse.rnbled ins ulator. Thc assemblcd insulator is
restoring \\ hil pi me and rod are degrading.
lt is abo e" jdcnt that cnergized rod is degrading dur ing phases I and 2. Almost no
degract ation too k place during phase 3 and it is rcstoring in r hase 4. Durillg rhase 5. it is
once again degrac\i ng and thi s degradati oll is more than the dcgradation obsen'cd in
piJases 1 and 2. Cn-cnergi zcd rod degrades in phase i and rcstores in phase 2. Again it is
degrading in phase 3 and restoring in pbase 4. Durng phase 5. it is once again c1 egrading
and thi s degradati on is more lhan the degradation obsencd in pilase I and pilase 3.
Energizccl plmes dc,!rade in phase I ane! phase 2. restore in pilase 3 and degrade in pilase
4. During phase 5. tile degradalion obser\'ed in phase .. cOl1linues more rapidl y. The un-
cnergized piare degrades rapi dly in phase l . degrades slo\\ 1: io pbase 2. restores rapidl\
in phase 3 and dc,!rades rapidl y in pilase During phase S. its degradati on obsened in
phase 4 cOllli ll ues more ra pidl ).
Energized insulator degrades rapiel l) in pllase 1. restofes rapidly in phase 2 and degrades
slo"ly in pilase 3 and phase 4. During pilase 5. it is restori ng 510\\ Iy. Til c un-energi zecl
insularor degrades in phase l. restores in phasc 2. no degradt ion takes place in phase 3
and degradeS in phase 4. Duri ng pbasc 5. it is n:str ing.
Ob\ IOllsl\. degradati on/resloration of each sample is dit'fcrent. e\ en til oll gh material is
lhe same. 1 hi s implies thm the process ol" degradati n. rest orati on depends OH the
gcomctry of the samplc. The clcgradation 15 muximum in plate anu the minimum in
ins\l lator. Accordingl y. it appcars hal practical insulator is rhe best geomtrical shapc'
among rod. pIare and insulawr. A similar shape effect ""15 obserwd in outdool' stud\
. r gmg hm:."Sngauor. O) I' olymertc IMldlllon
Ph n I Fr Ta.'tda. ?tl/'l St.UJ, .l /m' J(IIJ-
99
.. IglJIg Inwl ql r;r'\ /JI Smw!ated Fe"" lrluV!/t"lIrtl Q( f akisl!7l!
condUClcd bv lh: aulhor al a clean area of UET Taxila. The rcsuils \ViII be disclIssed in
Ihe follo\\ing chaplcrs.
lt is also by other researchers that geometrical design plays a large role in
perfo rmance of insulators than the differencc oi' material fonnul ation. The gcometry
inll u.::nces the polluti on accutnulmion and sdf cleaning 01' insul utors [1 9].
6.7.3 Absorption peaks llt different Wllve numbers
Pol\dimcthylsiloxane (PDMS ) is the mai n polymcr for siJicone oil and silicone rubber. 11
is mainl)' cotnposcd of chains of al tc rnati ng sil iconc and oxygen atoms and meth) 1
g.roups. These hyeirocarbon 1l1ethyl groups are responsible (or superi or hydrophobic
perfonnance of ,i licone rubber [ 1 7J .The Si -O bond has hi gh bond energy so that lhe
silicone rubber has a hi gh heat res istancc agai nst tracktng anei cl ischarge. To study the
obsen'eJ peaks. a piccc "as cut frolll the upper shed of insulator for FTIR analysis. lhe
absorptj on \'alues 2962 em lrefers \ 0 t!le C-IJ bond of methyl Cl-!, 1270-1 255 cm- l. and
1100- 1000 cm
1
refer to the Si-CH) bond. and the Si -O-Si m.ain boneJ. respccti vel) . The
\alucs of absorption at these "alc nUl11hers and % changes are ShOIVIl in Table 6.3.
T abJe 6.3 i\ bsorptioll data at different ,,'ave numbers 0\ cnergized insulators.
_.
Sampl e
A bsorpfion a \ Absorpfion at
exposurc
wave no. 1 008 "aH no.1258
(dan)
Viroin 0.877 0.309
36 0.85 1 0.299
72 0 749 0.273
-I
I
l OS 0888 0.292
104 0_847
I
0.282
144 0. 828 0. 290
,
6.8 Hydrophobicity
4Ung hn'dll.gallnn o/ I'o{Yr1Jt:'/c !>;jtdalo-'"r
P'1 D ( ET TU'l:tla. PaX,srw1. :(()-'
Change in
Absorption af
absorption rati o
",an no. 2962
al 1258 (,1.,)
O 0.0696
-3 1 0.0598
--
-) 1.65 0.0557
I
---
-5.5 0.0582
-8.73
I
0.059 1
-6.14 0 0590
-
--
100
ChaQter Agl1t 1",!uJaIDrs in Sim"laled F.nvironmfllJal o( PakistrH/
STR! hydrophobicity classification was used to determine Ibe surface hydropbobicity of
samples [! 8]. Variatiolls of hydrophobicity classificati on oflbe energized and the un-
energiz.ed insulators with time are shown in Fig. 6.3 and Table 6.4.
a} Un-energized nsulmor afier 36 doys b) Energi:ed nsulaJor afler 36 doys (phase /j
el Un-ellcrgized insllla/or 7r' day di En/!1'gi=ed insula/or 7:rW doy (phase 2)
"1 Un-e"ergized imlllator l ag" doy j) Energiud insllla/or l olf' doy (phau 3)
!(I Un-energized ",ulalor 14-1' day h Energ;,"d mlllalor 141" day (phase 4)
ii Un-energ;,ed insula/or 180'" doy j ) Energi=ed insularor IMf" doy (phase 5)
ARittg Im!t!!illga/iof of Polymerlc Insu}aIGrs. 101
Ph.D ' ETToxila. PaAiStafl . . \fay 2007
Agil1'g orPo/yme"" in Simulaled F:nvir(l nmenlaJ (l rpaJslan
Fig. 6.3 Comparsol1 of hydrophobicity of energized and rm-energlzed practical ins/llawrs with idemical
durat ion ,
Table 6.4 Variations in hydrophobi city of energized and un-energized insulators.
Sample (assembled insuJator )
Hydrophobicity class
exposure (days)
36 un-energi zed HC!
36 energized HC!
72 energized Between HC3 and HC4
72 un-energi zed He l
(108 energized Between HC 1 and HC2
108 un-energized Between HC 1 and HC2
144 energized HC4
144 un-energized HC4
1 8 O energized Between HC! and HC2
180 un-energized HCI
lncrease/decrease of absorption of fue C-H bond of CH) and Si-CH) means that the
number of C-H bond S increases/decreases and wi!.h !.he increase ol" C-H mokcules.
hydrophobicity of tbe insulator increases. The apparent degradation shown in Table 6.3
does nol match with lbe degradati ou shown by hydrophobicity c1assification given in
Table 6.4.
The variation is between He I to HC4. The variaton of hydrophobicity classification of
energized insuJ ator is shovvn in Fig. 6.4.
5
4
3
u 2
I
1
O .l.-__ ---.-_ ___ - ---- - r-----
O
Phase
1
Phase
2
Phase
3
Phase
4
Phase
5
Fi g. 6.4 Varia/ion in hydrophobicity c)",-ificalion al e"""lI. : od insll latorsfor differem pha.,es .
. lginA: Invesligaliott of Po/ymeric Insulotors.
Pn,D Thesis, UET Taxi/a. Pakislon. May 1(j{J7
102
;\s 511O\\'n in Fig, 6.4. the vmialoll s of hydrophobicity O{' encrgized nslIlalor is slightly
differcnt from the varalions 01' degradaron shO\vn by (l lher tour leclllliqlles. SlIch Iypes
oflechnqlle-based conlradictions are al so reported by other in\'estigators [9],
6.9 SEM
SE\! phelle'S nI' salllples al differelll l11ugnificat ions are shc)\\n in fig, 6,5.
1. 200x (J cm = 100 ,Lm)
7 500x ( J cm =50 pm)
3, 800x ( J cm =20 pm)
4, 150(Jx (1 cm = I O ,llm)
b; SE,\/ phutos aftel' 36 drJ)- s ;l1r(>rri:eJ n ...wIG(ur" (plt,ISt:! 1)
e) ,\f.\J pho/u o/ Ln-ellergD..'d rn"ill/fJfor (llf(" l ..J.J da,!'" -1) .
ASlng ()( fl Q!yrnf! /"ic I nsuJafOrs.
Ph D Thl.'S/5. r. /;,TTaxi{a PoHSlatl . . \ la) lOte
103
el) SE,H fJ1olOs afier 1-/.1 da)'."> energi : ed iHsuhaor (!Jhase -f)
lOO"
500..- 800x
e) SE. \,{ phOfO ajir 180 daFi ofull- l l1ergi=ed insulator (pJa.'i.f: 5)
200"
511U, ;;;(jOx
f} SEJIJ pholo 01 t!l1o!rg/;;!d m.)fr!(1((,' tlller SO (phme 5)
For energized/ un-cnergized pract ical insulator. it is clear Ihm the surface has become
rough but no crack \\as 1t \\ -as noed that h,' surface morphology (s hape. sizc
and he arrangemcn 01' he part icl es on he surface of samples ) is changing \Vih time.
There is increased roughncss with time. Jt can be , een thar sampks sudace roughens and
Ihe fill er di spersioll beco mes more n Oll- homogencus \\itb time. The surface topography
(surface feal ure al' a samplc as ho" il looks) has 5nO\\ 11 lhat the encrgized samplc
becomes rougher earlicr thall its ll ll -cnergized COut1tcrpnrt . ,\ lsn. the tll ler di spersion IS
r Jatively more llon-homogeneou, in cnergircd in<.ulator. ! he surface integration IS
increasing v.itll more lumped !xll1 icl es \\, jh time.
6,10 Leakage ClIrreot Monitoring
01 P()J.\mer/c
f'h.D ThI!.SH. [Er Tn..n la. ]Jakw(JJJ. ](Jfr
104
Leakage current moniloring on a pol;meri c insulator has been used as a tool to
surface conditions nd thereb,' its agi ng / degradati on,
,-\ n eXlcnsi,'c dala \Vas col lected using Icakage current moni toring system, Value al each
minule " 'as The Icakage currenl could be used lO ca!culale surface charge and
wam loss [9J.
currenl \\'as monilorecl by placing a !O kn resistor in series wilh the energized
insulalor and lhen measuring lhe voitagc across il "ilh a digi lal meler and a leakage
moni loring sys lem, It remained conslant al 4 tU\ during fi rs l four phascs and
raised lO 7 tIA in 5
1h
pha,e, l he increase ol' currenl in fit'th phase scems lO be duc lO
"wi ng caused by ice al -16 "C: ho","e\'er thc current is \Vd l "ilhin the range of heal th: '
insul ator, ,ho\\' that allhough lhere "'Cre sorne reductions in the molecular and
stnlctural arrangemenls of material. lhe Illalcrial ,,'as inlact and the inlegr ity was nOl lost
ami still there is active life left and lhe insulator'i Illa' b" in lhe tlelcl for some more
time,
6.11 GenemJ Discussion
Compared to the. virgin, sall1pJ es nellher crack nor eroslOn or chalking, Maximum
degradation of -17,7 '% \Vas found in rhe plale, lIydrophobicit y ,aricd from He I lO HC4,
The leakage current vari cd 'mm 4-7 uA, SE\1 ',ho\\ ed rouglmess but no cracks.
The performance 01' praclical insulat or \\as found superior comparecl "ith both rod and
plate, The results 01' acceleraled multi-"lress aging [(unel in Ihis rcsearch resembicd ver)'
much to those obtained car liet' jrom multi -stress accclemted aging of polYl1ler-hoLlsed
surge arresters under lhe condition, simulating constal en, 'ironmenl of' Florida [91,
lhc surface morpholog: and lopograph) as depicled by he SE);!. the FTIR
indic3ling decrease in polylll a groups on surface, trcnd (Ir leakagc current val ues,
"!Sual observarions, al l supported each olher. whil e Sl RI h"drophobicity classificalion
\\a, sli ghll v difterent Ol11th" results ol' abo,'c f ur anal, si, techni qllcs, Suc h a lrend llf
'ariati on in rcsul ts was al so in the rcsearc h pupers in the raSI like thc one
0.1 PoIJ'merK Imt ri.:Jli?n.
Ph D rile-:>f'. I ET T,mla. Pakslan, \/aJ ::(Jr-
105
Aging nfPoh'nrf l"ic Itt'\ ulorqrs in Slmu'Qled Envi,.(!nmemal ()(fakisfal/
dcaling ,,'ir h silicone rubber in an FPRI srudy where significanr morphology changes
\wre ShO"ll by x-ra)' diffracrion (XRD) bur thi s \Vas not supponecl by corrcsponding
dliUlgc in rhe leakage currCIl! or FTlR peak hcighrs, Si milarly, anothcr study of Raji
Sundararajan el. al reponed higher Ieakage current "hich \vas supponing SEivl results
\\hile FTIR analysis and STRI hydrophobicity classificarion \\ere nOl in compliance [91,
In the li gll! of aboye faers. Olle possibilit)' may be rhar si gnifi canr change in
hydropbobicitv (lccurs " itbout leading any significanr pol)mer degradation. This is rhe
tirsr ever pi onccring 10ng-rel11 srud) conducled in I'akistan undcr multi-stress conditions
thar simulare the act ual servicc environments of \'mious reprcsenlative regi ons oC
Pakistan, Conscquentlv, these results are of grcat practical significance which offered
rener insight into the degradation rroccss 01' polymeric insulawrs in Pakistan,
6.12 Concl usions
Pakistall is a coun!ry "ith intense ,,'ealher di ,'crsiry ,,'hcre aJl four seasons are round
si muhaneously in di rterent geographical regians, Some region may have - 10 "e
lempcralllres : anorher regian may ha\'e 56 Oc al .ame time \dlik a third coasral regiol1
likc Karachi may ha ve moderare temperature ",irh hi gh humidir y, Transmissiol1 lines
insulators ha\'e 10 tace c1iflcrem condirions ar diferenl places. Ir was thcrcrore nccessary
to il1\ esri gate long-tcnn aging perfomlance and life predict on of polymcric nsulato!'.
To\vards rhat end, the study \Yas conducted on the mosr promisi ng HTV SiR practical
insulators (containing si lica and \ TH), roo and pl ate u[the same marerial slIppli ed by the
leading Japanese il1sularor manufac rure. :-:GK,
O\uall results ortaincd unJer s vere ll1u l-stress . illlulated condirion suggcst thar rhe
poi) meric nsulators iu\'cstigatcd in this study in outdoor Icld ell \irolllllcnt of Pakistall
may last ror more than 12,67 years,
6.13 References
Agmx hn't'SI('<l f/VII of Polpm'/"ic hUlla/o'-s.
PI [ ET r,a ..wla.
106
/n{?fr 6
.-1 gtllg ofPoiymi!rir: In..qtlmol's 01 SI 111 lflul f!d ElJllirnnn(ff/IW/ n(
[1] Gra$Sie ami G SCOlt. "Pol)'lI7er degrada/i on and sraiJiliza/ion ", Cambridge
L niversilY Prcss, New York, 1985.
[2 J P 1'. Klemclluk, "Polymer ,rahiliza/ion ami degrada/ion ". ACS Symposium Series .
\mcrieJIl Chemical Sociely. Wa,hington O.e. 1985.
[3.1 \ '1. B. ':ciman (editor). "Aging and slilbliza/ioil ol polYll7ers ". Consultants Bureall .
:\c\\ York. 1965.
[4] H. 11. Ci. kl linek., "Degrada/ion oll'inyl pol,;mer.\ ". Acadcl11ic Press Ine. PlIblisllers.
\ ' e\\ York. 1955.
(5'1 A. 1 . \ '13slos and E. Sherif, ",\'atllral aging o! EFD.\) compmi/e isulators ., IEEE
Tra.ns. Power Del. Vol. 5. pp. 406-4 14. 1990.
[61 r. J, Lewi s, "Fundamental ol Ihe aging 1)i'()cesS", IEEE MlIltifaclor aglllg
Colloqllium. 1995.
171 T. ""'lging-apenl'eui l' c" , IEEE ElcClr. [nsul. Mag. Vol. 17. No. 4 pp. 6-
16,2001
[8] R, Sundararajan, A. Ylohal11l11ed. \ ' . Chaipani t. Tim Karcller and Z. Liu, "}/1-service
ilging ami degri1ilmioil o/ kl ' EPD.II IrUi1smi.\sioi7 line nsula/o!'s ill a cUilslII1
cn\'ironmenl". IEEE Trans. Di electric. E]cC1L'O. Insu!. Vol. 11. pp. 348-361. 2004.
[91 Raji SlLndararajan , Esaki Soundaraian ' Areef \ IuhaL11111ad and Jason Graves, Jilll/ i
.\ /rc:ss uc{'cll.'ra!ed aging o/ polymeric-Jww.;ed .\ urge nnes!crs linde)" simula/et!
wastal Floridu conclilioll)", [EEF '1 ral1S;Kliol1s 011 Didectrics and Elcctrical
Insulalion. Vol 13. \'0. 1. pp. 21\-226. February :::' 006.
[lO) H. \1. Schnicder. \\'. W. Guidi. J.T Burrnham, R. S Gorur amI J. 1'. Hal l.
"Acce/erofeu aging Gl1d.fhnhc.7, 'el' le.HS un 138 kV nOHCl!ranzic linc posl insula[ors".
IEEE Trans. POller Dcl. Vol. 8, pp, 325-336, 1993.
[ \\ ) H. \1 Schnieder. W. \\'. Guidi. J. P. Illcik. J. r,. IIClII R. L .8ro"I1, J.T Burnhal11,
D. Chaple)' , J. Ells\\orthJ. R. L. Robargc and L. \\ 'akdield. "AccelerGl ed aging
/ilcilily rol' lIll-seale 500 kV 1l0 f/ceramic {lsulmuY.I", 8th ISII paper 47.07,
Yokobama .. bpall , 1993.
[1 2) Space research in Paki stan 2002-2003 SlIrARCU" ;\pr SWlion Cloud covers
Dma.
Agll/g ofPolyml!nc hwdarors
f}: D ' '[T Taxi/a. p(1)aslall .. H{l) 20fT
\07
113] i\DB RUI\5555-Emironmenl statistics Pakislan.
114] "C ' V wUllhering o/)(I re/oled Iesl lIIelhoc!, ". Cabol Corporalion. i'v!A-LS!\.
\nn\ .cabol-corp.eom/plastics aecessed September 2006, (\Vebsilc),
1 151 Burnham. Jefr. "Guideli ne for ,i sual idcntificalion of damageci polymer insulators",
Transmission departrncnl. Juno Beach. November 1998.
116] " C/l" /liIe jin' visllal idel1lificUlioi/ o( de/erioro/io/! ami da/1lages 0/1 ,l'IIspensiol1
COl7ljJUII/e i/1.\/I/a/ors". STRI GlIide 5. 200).
[171 J.\V. Chango anu R.S, Gorur. "[he ro/e of D(lckhone clwil1 rO{(J/iol1 in /he
hy Jrorho/ici/)' recovery o(pol)'lIlaic mil/erial.' 101' o,,/dool' il1.wlo/ion". ['roe. IEI -:I:
In!. confcrencc on eondllction and breakdown in sol id dielectric, pp. 270-275.J 992,
[ 1 R] Hydrophobicily Classillcation Gllide. STRI GlIicie 92.' 1,
[19] T. Gus lavsson. "Silicoil e i'lIbha imllla/oJ'.), i/llpacls o/ mo/er!aljiJI'I1I1I1c1Iion i/1 cus/al
e/1\'ironmel7l'. Thesis for Dcgrcc of Doctor of Phi losorhy. Depal1ment of Eleetrical
PO\ler Enginccring. Chalmcrs L niversily ofTechnolog). Cutenberg Sweden, 2002,
. ..Jgljg orpoh'JJrl' I"IC Im;rrlmors
P/I O TI<?qt 1:.7 I axila, l'a$;.iSIc'1.II .. \/(/\
lOS
Cho[ll er :-- Field Agl}Ji1 o/ Po/) Oft?rii: In crean ErwirQJIIIl el 11 o{Pakl:i/an
Chapter 7
Field Aging of Polyrneric Insulators in Clean
Environment of Pakistan
7.1 Introduction
The tradit ionai cerarnic insulalOrs (i.c. insulators made 01' glass and porccJain) havc bccn
used fOl" a long ti me. Thesc types torally domi nated markct unti l the introduclion of
composite insulalOrs [1].
ril e use 01' polymcric mat erials for \\'cather-sheds of outdoor insulat ors has rapidh'
increascd duri ng thc last t\\' o c\ecades [2]. Tlle dri\' ing 1TI0ti vatioll for increased use of
lhese insulators is lhe uniquc eharacler;stics 01' hydrophobic ity \\hich proviclcs a hi gh
surfaee resi slance even in the presence of ITIO; Slllre anc\ contaminalion. Th;s surfaee
h"havior suppresses the leakage current 10 10\\ [3] . But the fic\d experience 01'
polymeric insulators is not yCl arge cnough [41. lhe (l l\'meri material s are more pronc
lO chemi cal changcs which muy ad\ersely afTee\ reliabili\ y amI long-tenn
r crformance ofthesc insuJators in sen 'ice [S].
l he decl riea\. phys ical anel chcmica l propenes f pol Yl1lcric surfacc are crilical l(l
the pcrfomlance of lhe insulator throughout its sen'ice li fe. Long-tenn eXJlosure 01' a
polyml' ric insul ator to cl1vironmel1tal and Sl resses causes severa! changes in
the cOlll posit ion of shed materi al amI its ,urface morpbo logy. a llc\ red uces its \\ater
r pe ll ent characteristics. These changcs occur typical ly at a fe\\' top mono-Iayers
[6].Therefore. il is important thm the performance of thcse insulators should be studied
under reali stic conditions so as 10 dctermi nt: Ibe rate and e"tent of agng and the
Agiflg 0.( I nsu/auns.
PI o 1... ET T . ,:rtla. .. 21)0-
109
tnechanism, involvcd thcrein and lO compare t1eld aging dat a wilh thal ohtained through
tnulti-slrss art ificial aging [5J.
lhe transmission dislrihuli on syslems 01' I'akistan WAPDA slill cmploy cerumle
insul ators. lhe t1c!d aging Si ud) iniliated at lhe Lni \ersi t\' 01' Enginecring 3nd
I'echnolog) Taxi la. Pak islan is a pan 01' 10ng-lerl11 program for deterl11ining lbe
feasibi\ly 01' polymcr inslllalors for large-scale applie31iolb in Ihe prevailing Pakistani
en vi ronmCI)1.
[n this ,; tud)'. onl)' those samples 01' polYll1e rie inslllalors \\ hich \\'ere installcd in a c1ean
envirorunem \\'ill he discllssed with specitlc refercnce !O aging. The field samples \Vere
exposed lO hydrophohic ily analvsis and \'isual ohservation on regul ar hasis. Various
maleri al tesling and characterizali on teehniqllcs \Vere al so cll1ployed ror addilional
analysi s of aging behavior.
7.2 Experiment
7.2.1 The ficld site
l he le,1 slat; on (Fi g. 7.1) i, localed in Ihe premi,c,; 0f Cniversit\ oC Lngineering and
fcchnolllg\. Taxil a: which ilselr is ILlcaled in the suhllrbs of laxi la IO\VJ1. Taxi la is
locmcd 40 km north 01' Islamabad. Ihe capital eity of Paki stan. lis c1imate is mostly hol.
dr: lemperalc in nonh\\'est: areric in th.: l1orth. 11 is free of any SOr! oC industrial
poJl llt ion and has a ver) (lean 1l\'irOlmlenl . T!lereIQre. Ihe c!losen test spccific creepage
dl sance Sl>i ts areas falling in Iight pol lut ion category [7. 8J,
.- lgr/1g Im'ey!(gal lr)fl o/Pv{ymffru-lrr.Hdafors.
PI: n THf'SI:i t. 1:. / Tuu(o, f'aki:/tr, ."a.! 2(/>'r:
11 0
ChtIntt!r 7
.'IglITg lmestfgGtwn 01 PolynU!ric ln.fulalors.
p,. D TItesi..:. 1 El f a.t ila. PakiSIaI' . .Hoy 2007
F1g/d Aging nrpoIyrn,r;c blsylatm'l' in e/ron F.nvlro"menl
a) Urr-energi=ed
b) ElJergi=ed
1 1 1
CI / m{u 7 FlfldA r:ing o(Polr;rrwl's'c ln.mlalOrs in clean F.mrirm,melll
E 121 -se 080 -S3 E 12 1-SE040 -SB E 121 -SL OSO -S8 E 12 1 -SS 070 -SB
(e) Pl\otos of insu181OTS
Fig. 7. 1 Outdoortes tsJalion al Taxi/a.
7.2.2 Speci mens (rod aod plate)
Two rods (cyli nders) and two plates used were oflhe followmg material and
dimensions.
1. HTV -sil icone rod containing silica and ATH (un-energized and energized): 300 mm x
JO mm representing length and diameter, respectively.
2. HTV-sil icone plate containing si lica and ATH (un-energized & energized): 162 mm x
200 mm representing width and length, respectively.
7.2.3 Specimens (pra:tical insuJJlIOrs)
The geomctrical parameters ofthe insulators used in outdoor study are given in Table 7.1.
Table 7.1 Geometrical pararneters of insulators used in outdoor study.
I!n'e! /Ip,allon al PoJymer'c Insuhuors.
PIl. D TJrtt.n's. L'ET Tm:i}a, Paki.,lan, .Hay 1/)() 7
112
Chq2/er - F/f ldAgi'IQ qfPnh'ml?YlC Jlfslfla/ (')/"s m Rm'rS>J11rr f' /!1 ofjlakwan
Scction Leakage Co rc Distance
length di stance dia No of bctwccn Dia of
(mm) (mm) (mm) shcds shcds(mm) shcds mm l
L-L L-S large smaH
E 121-SE040-SB 391 521 28 4 60 30 156 126
EI2 1-SLOSO- B 421 446 28 5 60 30 154 106
E 111 -5S070-S8 481 515 28 7 60 30 108 78
- -
-
E 111-SCOSO-SB
511 497 28 8 30 78
This sclleme makes it possible 10 sludy Ih maleri al agi ng and slruclural changes 01' Ihe
sample when rhey are energized "nd \\eathered and weathered only [5- 1 3J.
7.2.4 Applied voltage and test durati on
Applied \'oltage 10 kV AC (single phase)
1i!sr Duration: OI- IO-200S lo 18-12-2006 (rod and plale): abOll l lSmoll lhs
Test Duralion: 15-03-200610 18- I 2-2006 (insubtors): 9 Illonlhs
7.3 Results and Discussion ( Rud "nd Piar e)
The aging and degradation was 3nalyzcd by vs\lal obsen ali on for any color change_
cracki ng al1l1 ot.her nOli ceablc changes_ and STRI hyuropbobicily class ificmi on for
slIrfnce 'H' lting eharacteri stic$. The surface changes characleri/.ed by attenuated
total rd12clance Fouri er Transform Spcctroscop\" (FTIR-/\TR) ancl scanllll1g
cleclron microscopy (9, 13 J.
7.3.1 Visualobservations
Di scoloralion \\ilS obscrved on the un-energi/ed plate {mi, duri ng Ihe 11
'
" monlh. This
discoloral ion occlIrred in lhe forrn of 1\\ 0 small yello\\ slrips 0 11 Ihe I(l\\er cnd (f'ig. 7.2).
.. t/lm oj PQ/ymenc 11fl1dol(U'S,
113
,oh !) 1 ET 7'0 ...\11,'2, ?akwa), J/U\' ] f)rr
I
I
1
Field q{Pn/WJlI'ric fmrtlaroys 111 cfeon E'nV/-6rmf J rrf o( PakWrtn
Discoloratinn is lhe flrsl manifcslation of e!egrae!alion which is e!ue lo an inlra-moleeular
c)cli zalioIJ process [61.
Fig. 7.2 1) I1-encrgi:;ed pIafe (discolorOl;'Jn) .
.. \l lhe ene! oi" XpOSurC perioe!, lhe slIrfacc of all samples became rough bul (here was no
,isible :;ign of tracking ane! erosiono Through inlermillenl inspections. SOIl1 C accumulalion
al' dUSl "as obscrvcd \\hich gOl periodicall\" washed off by rain. The conlaminali on le,eI
\';as lllcasurcd which confonncd lO POllllti ol1 k\"e] pertainin!,!. \0 a clcan cnvironmenl.
7.3.2 Material diagnostic tec hniques
FTIR Spcctroscopy
% changcs " i" abS() rplion ralio ror cnergizecl and un-cncrgi /d rod ami plale are shown in
Fi gures 7.4 und 7.). respec li,d: .
;1.s,'jlil' h m?SI :gmj()ll o(P?>(vweric lrSItllOt'5.
PI D Tht.l'l\. ( Er Ta.xila. l'a k.,slOtt 2({/ 7"
114
((aecer 7 f fe/4 Agjag n(Po/ymerjc If\<ula lnr.t in flTVir!!1..nt f{Pahslan.
4
_.
:::<
2 o
-+- Un-energized

O
::;
--- Energized
ro O
.....
e
4 6 8 10 12 14
O
-
2
MONTHS
O-
.....
o
1/1
4
..Q
ro
e
<1>
6
VI
e
ro
8
.c

1 o
I'ig. 7.4 DegradO/ion samples as uf une/Ion oflime exposed
O
.. -.

2 4 6 B 10 12 14

.. _'
2
O
MONTHS
:::;
ro
.....
4
e
o
-
6
O-
'-
o
(/)
8
..c
ro
e
O
-+- UN-ENERGIZED
<1>
VI
e
2
ro
___ ENERGI ZED
.c

.4
i 6
I'ig. 7.5 Degrada/i on uf plale .,"mples as afi mction oJ /ime exposed
As shown in Figures 7.4 and 7.5, in lerms oi ma.ximum degradation, the wl-energized
samples are degrading lIJore rapidl y han their energized counterparts. For the gi ven
Agmg 01 Jn. .. ulalors.
Ph D rht!.,,:s. I :e T" Paki$fOJ/. May } oo?
11 5
Chapter Fjeld Afng p(Pol\'mer1'c ln.tulalors in clean F.rrvironmem n(Paislwt_.
exposure period, all samples complele approximately \WO cycles of degradation and
restoration wilh Ihe exception of energized rod, which has gone through only one such
cycle. lhe un-energized plate showed maximum degradation (-13. 5 %) among all the
investigated four samples.
AII FTIR resulls confum that samples follow a periodic degradation/resloralion cycle.
This is due 10 \he reason Ihal samples have polymer chains of varying distribution of
molecular weighl where sorne are of free low molecular weighl (LMW) (i.e. <2500). The
shorter LMW chains are responsible for diffusion owing 10 Iheir higher mobility. In the
restoration periodo because of difference in dellsity, Ihe LMW polymeric liquid or oi! in
Ihe bulk di ffuses aJld migrales lo the surface layer and Ihereby Ihe defciency of
hydrophobic rnethyl groups gelS made up [ 10, 13].
The absorption bands in Ihe regon 3700-3200 cro-
I
are due lo OH groups in AbO).3 H20
and AI(Ol-lh. Absorptioll around 2962 cm-
I
is due to an al iphalic eH strelch in eH
3
. The
absorption al 840-790 cm' l is chaTacteristic of Si -alkyl groups. Also, as al ready defined
Ihe absorption al 1270-1 255 cm' l is due to a symmetric CH] deformation of Si - CH) and
absorption around 1100-1 000 cm' l is due to Si -Q-Si s\relchiJlg [5].
Fig. 7.6 sho",s the varialion in absorbance cor,esponding to al umina trihydrate i.e. the
filler.
0 07
o Energized TO
t:l Un-.nergizedrod
0 00
EnerglZOd ptat'
Un,.nerg;zed plate
.. 0 .0tS
'-'
=
'"
0.04
...

o
0 .03
'"

0 . 02
001
o
o 3 7 .5 10.5
1 Ionths
Fil:,7.6 Time-dependenr ab,orbance of fi ll, r.
Agillg /nveSl/gallDn 01 Palymerrc lnsulalOl"S.
Ph. [) TJU'!IS ( F. T Taxi/a. Pakf.sfGn, Ala)' 1007
12
I 16
The 7.6 sbows lhat the absorbance is approximately minimum for all samples during
measuremcnts taken in the 9"' month as compared to any absorbance other data taken
during OIle year. This is in harmony with the SEM micrograpbs taken a l the sanle time
whicb show he phase difference between !he filler and the base material. AIso, il is
obscrvcd tbat only energized rod mainlaned the absorbance throughout the aging period
while all other samples showed zero absorbance in Ihe 12
th
month and the un-energized
rod showed zero absorbance in 8
th
monln. This is in harmony with other results which
showed thal he energized rod degrades Ihe m.iniOlUID.
Figures 7.7 and 7.8 show the variati on in absorbance for 2962 and 790 bands.
respec.tively.
0 .08
0 .07
O. De
..
:::
:;
.,Q 0 ,04
;
; 0 .03
..-,: 0.02
0. 0 1
o
o :3
CJ E.l. tgiu d lOd
CJ Un- . n. rgiz.d rod
E.l erg.:ed plote
Un-enetgized plato
e5 7 ,5 Q
11011th.,
1015
Flg. 7.7 Time-depende,,' "b., arbatlc, al 2962 0 11(1.
Aging af PQl.wff eric InslltalDrS,
PiI. D Thesis. I.'Fr Tl'"ila, Pal4stan. Moy 2007
12
117
Chaprer' 7 Fldd Ag/ng n(PoIymrrlc in c/ean F.nvr()//menr
0 1;1
0.8
.. 0.7
"
OO

O
0 04
-f, 0.3
0.2
0.1
O
O 3
Energixed red
Un-entrgil:ed red
Energixed plote
Un-erutl'gj%ed pl.to
El 7 .15
11lontlos
"0 .15
Fi g. 7.8 Time-dependem absorbunce a/ 790 CIII -/ _
12
80th these graphs reconfirm the results of perceotage degradation discussed previously_
The minimum absorbance is observed dw-ing measuremeots made io Ihe 9'h month
sho\\'ing maximum degradation.
7.3.3 ResuJts and discussions (insulators)
Results of euergized iu!uJatol'll
10_0
00
---- E-12l SC080 - SB I
- E- 121 SL050-SB
-20.0 - --E- 121 SE040-SB
-30.0
SS070 - SB '
I
-40 O
Number of days
Fig. 7.9 Ti m"-d{!pelldnt Degrada/ion <?! energi"ed ",ula/ors_
From the graphs in Fig. 7.9, E-1 2 ISL050-SB is degrading continuously whi le all other
are cyc\ically degradillg and restoring.
Aging 01 Polymeric l nrulalors.
P/ . n lJlesis. LET Taxllo. Pak. tston, Muy 2007
118
Clio(?te,.. 7 Fie. /d Agilrg prPQ/ynrrric fnrulator$ in clean Env;ronmenr nfPa{t;:\'t(JIL,
Resulls o un-encrgized insuJalors


000
--+--- E-121 se080 - SB
"
147'-- J..2.Q. . 281
o
--- E- l21 SL050 - SE
Z3
-10.00
rkys . days
ro
-O
--E-1 21 SE040- SE
ro
/ .---.- '.
@ -20.00
---- E-12 1 SS070 - SE
<>
' ..
::
-30.00
Nwnber of days
Fig. 7.10 Time dependen/ degrada/ion ofuJI-energized iJl,u/lIfOr .
Data shown in Fig. 7. 10 suggesls Ihat E- 121-SS070-SB is degrading conlinuously while
olhers sllow a cycJic behavior.
7.4 Scanning ElectroD Microscopy (Rod and Plate)
SEM shows the molecular structural changes of Ihe surface lll ]. JI gives changes in the
surface lllorphology and topography (as how it looks) - [he surface rouglmess, cracks. in-
hOITlogeneities etc if any [9).
Fig. 7. 11 shows lhe SEM rnicro-graphs for energized and LU1-energized rod and plate
samples at 800x magnlfication Le. 1 mm corresponds to 25 11m.
Agillg {m'($U" allon of Polymeric IllsulaJors.
Ph. n TlJit$ls. (JET Taxi/a. Pakisral1. :Hay l oo7
Virgin
11l)
aJi er 6 mOnl h
ElU!IJ!, i:ed !?od (:n-N1ergi: ed RuJ C.'n-el1l.'I ....j.ized Piule
7,11 S'E.\f mu.:rograp/t. (enc!F8r;(..J rod plL1f I!) ,
During jnilial 6 J11onths. Ihe surfac has betomc slightl ) rougher hui ji is ,lil l
Bul in lhe S3lTI ple CUI afier 9 l11onlbs. Ih filler conlcnl and lhe
difference of he base and tbe nlalcri ul became cleurl\' \'isible implying Ihal lhe
surt,ce is no 1110re ilomogeneOLIS, !\pan fmm these surface roughening amI pil ase
difkrence. no major ucgradmi on , ueh as cracking is obsened,
7.4.1 Scanning electro n microscopy (insulalors)
Fi gure 7, J 2 "ho\\'s l1liero-graphs of insulalors taken after 28 1 Ju\'s 01' installatiol1,
A;.;m:.! o/ I II.SI/(OlOrs.
120
rh. ['J Thi!lJ \ . CET Ta.:rlla. PIJKI5UU! . . \}U.l ] 1J.rr
D eld Ag, /l g qfPol wnt?rt c f I/SII/OIOr! I/J ch:(/Il Envfrol1/nenl a {f)ah5(OH
EI21 SC080-SBx5UO
E
E 12/ SL050-SBx2Dn
.Ig/ tg al !)()), mene JJ1sulttion.
PI-: D T//::sl s 1 ETTa.x{tI . {lCl ),.l:Sralt . . \ l aJ
E/ 2J -SC080-SBx200
F.-J 2
E i 21-SL050-SBx200
121
EI 21-SL050-5Bx500
El21-SS0
C
O-SB.50(1
Cn-energized
EI21-5L050-SBx500
E 12 1-').'1070-58.\"200
El

Fig. 7. 12 SF..\f microx,raph n/m)rdo,ors
.\ 11 energized illsulators ha\ e shcmn ",emer roughness compo.red \Vilb the lIn-energizcd
COll nterpans.
7.5 Hydrophobicity (Rod and Plate) 112 ]
Pic turcs sho\\'ing hydrophobic ity of ull-cnergt<.: d pl;t,;: are sbo"' ll in fig. 7. 13.
4g/lig ff1w.frf.'?pIJOf! olJ'nhmcnr..' bt$lltalorr.
Ph [) TIJe "," l F7 Ta.\iJa. P(/ !Istan . . \JO.1 (ir
122
(hamer 7 Fidd Ag!g o{ PD/ymeric ;11 clean FII\' irrmmtnt (J{ PakJslan.
aJ a.fier 6 months b) afler 8 monll" e) afier /0 monlhs ti) ajier //.5 mOn/hs
f ig. 7.13 Hy drop/obicily Clas.'ificalion rUn-energized plale).
The hydrophobici ty of aH \he samples remained withi n HC I and HC2 class i.e. foHowing
an approximatel y periodic restoration alld degradati on cycle. This is in conformity with
the visual observation, SEM and FT1R results.
[t is reported in many papers thal siJicone rubber can recover its 1051 hydrophobicity. As
already stated, this recovery of hydrophobicity may be due 10 diffusion of low molecular
weight polymer chai ns from the bulk material and reorientation of the hydrophobic
groups at the insulalor surface [5) .
7.5.1 Hydropbobici ty (in$uJators)
Figures 7. 14 and 7. J 5 show the hydJ"Ophobicity of energi zed insulatonl and their
respective STR! classifi cation are given in Tables 7.2 alld 7.3.
ResuJts of energizcd insulators
11 t doys / 47 da)'. / 96 doys
A:ing !rtwsrigarion o[ Polyml!rlc tlSl4larors.
Ph. /J ThesS L'F:r Ta:r:lla, Pa.kisl<1lJ. ,Hay 2oo?

28/ doys
123
Chaola 7 FieJd Agirrg o[PQ"'me,;C Ins ula(pr,t , clran F"vimnrnl'nI (,(Pakran
I/ I days 1-17 days 196 days 281 day>
E-121-SL050-$B
11/ days 147 days J 96 day' 281 day.
E-/21-SL040-SB
1/1 days /47 da)'s 196 day. 28/ day>
E-121-SL070-SB
Fig. 7.14 Hydrophobi(' j(i' measurl!m-'!W (energi:ed insularGr,/j) ,
Table 7.2 Hydrophobicity classifi cation of energized insulators vs. exposure time.
Type Virgin 111 days 147 days 196 days 281 days
E-12 1 SC080 - SB I-IC- I I-I C- I I-IC- 2 I-I C- 3 HC-4
E-121 SLOSO - SB I-IC- I HC- ! I-I C- 2 I-IC- 2 I-I C- I
E-12 1 SE040 - SB I-IC- I I-IC- I I-IC- 3 I-IC- 2 I-I C-5
1-,- -
E-121 SS070 - SB I-IC- I I-IC-I I-IC- 2 I-IC- 3 I-IC-5
E-121-SC080-SB and E-121-SS070-SB are losing hydrophobicity continuous!y up lo
281" day whi le E- 121-SL050-SB and E- 121 SE040-SB are losing and recovering
hydrophobicity.
:4gillg Im'l!sligeHfolI o[ PC/ymerir.: InrulaJOI"s,
Ph. D T h ~ t / s f /Fr Taxi/a, PaAlSIOI/ , Muy l()()7
124
Fietd Agirlg o(Po/ymtlrlt.' 'ruyla!ocs in Environmt! nl
Results of un-energized insulators
1 JI days / 47 days 196 days 281 days
VE-121-SC080-SB
111 day .. / 47 days 196 days 28/ days
VE-121
11/ day' 147 days 196 day,
28/ day.

j 11 days 141 days 196 da y" 28/ day.,
UE-UI
Fig. 7. 15 I-/ydrophobicity measwemenl (Im- nergized il1sulaIGrs).
/tgiN': I n!.!esllgmlofl of In.JII}al ors,
Ph. D Thesis. I .' F:T Taxilu, Pokt.slarr. AflJ)' 2OO7
125
Frei d Aeing (l{ Pnll'mef'ic fIl eh' (m Emironffl r t!l o{ Palcii;wl1
Table 7.3 1 lydrophobict)' c1assi/icatiolt ofun-energi zed insulators vs. exposure time.
Type Virgin 111 da)'s 147 196 days 281 days
__ o
[ - 121 SC080 - S8 HC- I HC- I HC- J HC- 4 HC- 5
E-121 SL050 - S8 HC- l HC- I HC- 3 HC- 4 HC-5
F-IlI SE040 - S8 I-IC- I HC- I HC- 5 I-IC- 3 HC- 5
- -
[-121 SS070 - S8 HC- I HC- I HC- 3 HC- 2 HC-5
Fi rst t\lO samplcs are losing hydrophobicity. ",hile the la>! t\\'o 'U'e varying cyclically.
7.6 Conclllsions
o ,'..11 salllpk s c!cmonstrmed an ela.,ic reco\'ef\ bcha\'ior follo",ing a peri odic
degradat ionirestot"ation cyc lc at a freqllency oftwo C"cles per year.
o The rcak degradatioll of un-energized samples has sho\\n an inerense in the second
cyc lc. \1 hile the cnergi/ed samples Illaintained appro>:i11l3tdy the ,ame peak
degradation as in the first e\ ele. Tbis is 3 depi cti OI1 of the fact that elect ric stress
helped in control ling aging.
o Peak degradations 01' energi zed and ull ,energiLed plales are more thall the
corr sponding rod sall1ples in lhe same em'ironm ni . \'efl"cti ng the efIeet al' shape un
degradnlion.
o Through SEM slud\' . the piJ ase difthencc bet\\cell the base and the tiller ll1at<; rial "as
obsen'ed uuri ng lhe nimh mot1th 01' c>: posure fl)' al! sampJes.
o Amo ng al1 smnples. (he un-energi 7ed ri me has sho\\ n ma>: ill1 um degradation (-13.5
%) and it is al so the onl\' sall1ple \\ hich has showll slight di scoloratioll .
o Al110ng different practical insul:nor, . E, l21 SL050-Sn has shown maxllnum
degradati on of -29 %.
o l he insulator shapc idcnti tied as [C - 21 SS070-S13 \l as the best havi ng sho\\n thc
rninimUlll dcgradmion.
From practi cal standpoint. there " as no major uegradation 01' aging of any concern
cd during one year uf .
. J.gOJ.h! ol mi?"C.' IJJ$I.l.{"for5
126
fh n neit l"_ l FT l'a..tda, PaAHlaJ/, 2 !}1)-
Thcreforc. the reslIl ts of field exposure obtained in thi, stud) have shoIVn a great promi sc
prnctical use oC sili cone rubbcr composi tc insulalors in Pakistan.
7.7 References
[ 11 R. Haekam. "Ollldoor HV cOIl1f.' oSile polymeric ill.\'It!alors". IEEE Trans. on
Dielectri cs and Electri eal Insulati on. Vol. 6. ;\0. 5. pp. 557-585. Oe t. 1999.
[2 1 .l. l . lall. "islor)' w1i1 hihliography of polJlIleric insulalors lor OUIUOO,.
upplim/ioi1s". lEEr Trans. 0 11 l' o\\'cr DeJi\cr). Vol. S. "'0. l. pp. 376-3S5.
January 1993 .
r.; ] J.\\! Chango R.S. Gorll r. "Sur!ce recol'ery o/ .\ilicone rubher IIseJfr HVollldoor
inwlution" . IEEE Trans. on Diel ectrics and [ lec tri cal Insu]ation. Vol. . 1'0. 6.
pp. 039- 046, Dec. 994.
[4] R. \ -!atsuokJ. ,\' 1. Ishi\\ari. H. Shinokubo <lnd K. Kondo. 'Fielu leSI reslIlls 01
illl'lt!i/lors". () lh ISH. Camda. AugtlSI 1997.
[5] T. Sorqvisl. i\. E. Vlas tos."PeformU!1ce (JiU! ogeing olpolymeric inslllmors".
IEEE Trans. on Po\\cr Deli\ cTY. vol. 12. J\ o. -l. pp. 1657- 1665, Oet. 1<)97.
[6 J R.Sundararajon. Areef Vl ohalllmad. Nopporn Chaipanil. Ti l1l Karcher Dnd Zhenqu31l
Liu .. " /0- 'aria ,,[<ing onu degrada/iOII of kV ErD.vl IrOllsmission hne
insl/lwo/'s in (} co(t.\'/{! en\il'OllIIlcn( . JEEE Trans. 0 11 Di clectries and EJect rieal
Insulaton. Vol. 11. ;\0. 2. pp.3.JS-361. 2004.
PI \\ \\ \\ .\\eat hcrforecast.colll
lB] K. Shanna . . ' rO!FlIle/' ills ulul()I' .\ ". '.' \'., ... aset.ab.cw pdfti les
/
articJ c3.pd e pp.6.
[9] R. Sundararaj an. J. Gra \es. A. vlohammed. and A. Bakcr. "'Performance
erolllwiun o{ polymeric 1i1."lIlalOrS aged in I(lb a;ul fiehr , IEEE ['o\\'er
Engineering SOCiel) Cicl lcral \ Ieeting. Vol. J. flP. 2 ].1- 224. Jul) 2003.
[1 0] X Wang. Kumagai and :\ . Yoshimura."Cnl1/(/mioClOI performance uf silicone
ruhnu mSlIlalor /11 "cid rain IEEE Trans. 0 11 DicJcctrics and
Electrical InslIlation. Vol. 5. :\0. 6. pp. 909-9 [6. Dec. 1998.
[1 1 J '. . Clraipall il. C. Ratt J nakhong\ pUl and R. Sundararaj'lJ1. ",'1cccleroled mullislress
ogil1): in.",IOI or .) rinde!' .')'O;} Frol/cl "cu coos lol em' iro/llnenl", IELl
,IIi?UH? 1)/ Po/mt'nc Insut(T{on.
Ph i) t [{ Tw:.do." ParSJr:m. JI- . 2IJrr
127
Con fe rencc on Elcclrical Ins lIlation and Dielcclric Phenolllena. 2001 Annual
Rep011. pp. 636-639. Oct. 200 1.
[12J I-Iydrophobicity Classification GlIidc. STRJ Guide 92.'1.
[1 3] :Y!uhammad Nasir Khall. 'Iie/d leslin?, o(po/YI1lCI ins/llmon"". ",se. Thcsis l!ET.
Taxi la. febo 2007 .
1m cWCl(1f10n of I nsll\7/0t"f
128
PI [) ThCSI \ , t ;'-7 T(l.Y'o. l/u)" ] (n -
Ag.'ng ofpol wllt!nc i,.,mlal Qrs / I higl:lr Q( J'ald'S(a.n
Chapter 8
Agi ng of Polyrneric Insulators in Industrial
Pollution Environment
8.1 Introduction
Transmi ssion and di stribll tion lilles lIsually pass throllgh industiall y poll uted areas and
therdore. assessmenl of polymeric insulators in such en\ ironmcnt is essential. r or lhis
purpose. industrial are a of Hallar industri al estate \\as sel ected. The lest sctup \Vas
ill stall ea al lhe prcmi ses 01" heavy el ectrical eomplex \\ 'hich is situaled at the centre 01"
estJte ilnd is sU\Tollndecl by marble cuni ng industry. mineral treatment plant. biscuit
factor y. cxtil e induslry and stcel induslr\. Thc prernis<: , of hea\) electrical eompl ex \\'as
selected becausc of industrial polJutiOI1 created by sand blasti ng. oi l cvaporation and
fumes generated by hea v)' elctrical compl x (HEC). The pollution gencraled b,
sUITounding indllslry conlained dusl. din. chemicals. sulphur J ioxide. nilrogen and fumes
ofall sorlS [IJ.
8.2 Experimental Setup
The st ructure devcloped ror this of rescareb \york \\ as designcd lO invcsligate thc
and performance 01' polymcric insulmors in an mdustrial ly pol lllled and hot
arcas of Pal-.i san. The strucrure and detail s o!' lest sctll p developed are
deseri bed below.
Ihi s Slructurc' cO!l.,isted 0 1' 1\\'0 slcel pipes. " itb eignt insulators mounted in pairs f t\yo
at eaeh of 'ur ends connecti ng 10 al Llminum strips. The schematie 0 1' complete sctup is
sho\\n in Fig. 8. J and a pholOgraph of set up and samplcs is sho\\11 in Fig. 8.2. Thi s
structure offered a hei ght of 20 I11.eters abo\'e gro und Ie \ cl. Un this test stand. inslllalors
al me!'" !nsl.l.{.-;/(In.
129
PI! f) f ET T.cu./la, Paklx!u./J . . \/m 2n(r
01' \'ariOllS kinds and sizes were installed and cnergi zed \\ith high voltage provided by a
10 kV ;\C sourcc.
Leakage currcntml1nitoring system as described earlier \Vas used to continll ollsly monitor
the currenl Ilowing over the sur face oC ins ulator and data \vere recordecl. Thc support
insulators uscd are made up oC Siemcns pan # OB- I O 15 , These are extremely light
Cach picec of these insulmors can bear a max imum electrical st ress 01' 7 k V, T\vo
suc h inslllators \\ere cOfUlectcd in series to \\'ithstand safel)' a stress al' II kV, The \Veight
ofcomplde installed sctup \\as 10,8 kg inclllding 5 kg oCsix polymer ic inSlllators. This is
\cr,. Ii ght \\'eight lar a compktc olltdoor test ,tat ion, Th" single-phase II kV1220 V. 1
kVA transCormer usccl \\as locall)' and has a \vcight of about 200 kg and rating 01' I
kVi\/ 11 kV, lhe whale aITangerncnt adopted tor outdoor study \Vas quite economical as
\\ 'el l as erfecti\'c to stllcly agi ng of po I yl11eric inSlIl ators
\\'o",t (lf cement and chcrnical factori es in that area li ke dusl. chemical polluti on.
and ext reme heat aCrectccl the inslllator surfaccs, l he resulh ofwhich are discussed in
following ;:; .:cti on.


, , _V.,jo
,-1
" 1'> u .... 1f .. , ( )
o o
o o
t ' 11 1;'. 1I .. ,"\! , ,, .., d
1"".,l all.l'" .... . 1">111. ..
\.",1 III !.! .... .,..1,,'-:
.. 1" ... "1,,,.),
S " "'I' I..:"
Fig. 8. J SlFuclure olJie/d Se!Up 01 pnlymenc , J1\1fnlors lt1 pol/Iilcci
. .fgmg ul Polyme.r/C' {nsuln(oys.
Ph D lht".\ H. ( FT To,x/n. Pol',shm . . \lay
130
Chapter8 Aging o{ oo/ymeric ISU/al ors i n hig/,ly [m/Juled o(Paki!uan
(a) Energized Sampl e .
rf
u
lL
E 121 -se 090 - SB E 121 - ss 080 -:m E 121-SE050 - SE
(b) InsulalOr, mndel numbcrs.
Fig. 8.2 Pojymeric insl1/ators inslalted in Oftldoot deGn en\'rrommml in Pakislan during testing.
Aging /nve:rli[!Olio'l Df
PI. D Then:5. (tEr Ta.rila. PakJsfQn. Mcry 2()()7
131
("O(JtJler S AS'mg lll.tu/fll on in IlI ghlr oollured 'llnrollJ/ll'1I1 orPal.Hofl
8.3 Specimen Samples
:,\(,K C0ll1ll1erci,,1 inslI lalOrs cksignated by modd nlllll bers EI21-SS0S0SI3.
[ 121 -S(0905 B. and E I21- SES050SB \\ere lI scd in the outdoor stud). Two units ofeach
lype.on energizcd and other lln-energized "ere instalkd. Sil1li larly. t\Vo siUnp!es each (lf
rod ilnd pl al e \\cre also installcd: one energi zed and olh<?r un-cnergi/.ed. 1\11 samples \\ere
lesled for 300 daO's .
8.3.1 Sizes of samplcs
r\1I tbe geomclri c pamlllelers 01" lhe inslI lalors lIsed in this slud, a re shown in Table 8.1.
Table 8.1 f'aramcters oC the inslIl alors lI sed.
-
Scction LeakHgc Core Distance
Insulator Icnglh dia. No oi hetween Oio.ofsh<ds(mm)
(mm) (mm) (mm) sheds , hcd. l mm)
L-L
lrS Large Small
-
.
E 12! -SESO,O-$B
421 666 28 5
T 52--
26 153 122
Alternate sno!!d"j
-- ---
EI 21-SC090 SB
541 639 18 9
1-
765
ReQul ar
- > -
-
E 121-SS080-SB
Si l 686 28 4
S"
27 . .5 107 77
A lt-ernale .sneJs
-'- _._-
. ,
I !
8.4 Results
As diff"rent techniques oC analysis \\er< he results acllie,ed by eilch
\\ ere recorded separately and tllen cOITclation nf obtained results b, 'arioll s melhods "'as
aucmplcu in (lrdcr to gel better ideo about aging. I [ere. Ilrs! he reslIll s of each tec hniqll
,,"il! be discussed indi\idllally and later coll ecti \'e effect \,ill be discussed.
-l gllig l m'i!!illgdl I (J11 01 Poi, mi' n C /n'idil,' I],. ...
132
Pi .. D n i L" JI\ t El J Lt {a , PClklshm. "0.1 2(,(; -
I
Chamer 8 AginV o( oo/rmr ric insul(l/Qry i n hif'hl y oolluled envirnnmenf f1(Pakistan
8.4.1 FTIR results
fTIR results of energized insulators, energized rod and plaie, un-energized insulators and
un-energized rod and plate are shown in Figures 8.3 through 8.6.
Results or energized insulaton
4 .0 0
2 .0 0
0.00 l C'>
0 - 2 .00
300 4 0 0
0

'2
-4 .0 0
- E- 1 2 1- S S0SO-SB
1

- 6 .0 0
.r;.
v
-- E- 12 1- SCOSO-SB
E- 12 1-S ES050-SB
;:::.
- 8. 00
- 10 .00
..

-1 2 .0 0
-14 .00
Number of days
Fig. 8.3 Degrada/ion pallern 01 ener8i:ed i. sulolors.
Results of energized rod and plSl e
2 00
1 ca
0 .00

- 1 DO
c:
- 2 00
o
."

"C
- 3 00
:;;,

-4 ca
Q
-o OC
-6 0 0

oii . --

_______ _ ___ 300 400
+--- ------ ----- -- ... -----

Number of d ay-s
--+- Energlzed Rod
.. Energiz ed Ptat
Fig. 8.4 Degrada/io" palier" ul rod und plale.
Ag18 I mesligation 01 PO{Ynlu ic I n51J}Q(Ors.
Ph. D TItE'"!ilS. { tET TaJa/a. ?akis/GI1. May 2oo?
133
e
o
'
"O
<O
....
O)
<1)
e
4.00
2.00
000
2.00
4. 00
6.00
8.00
-10.00
-12 00
Aging a(Qo}yml!ric fn.-vul alo{$ i n hlglrJy {J(}lIuJed env;rrmmenl (){Pali./.'iJf1!l
--+- E-121-SS08D-SB
----- E-121-SC09D-SB
E-121-SESD5D-SB
Number of days
Fig. 8..5 Degrada/ion pallern insuJalOrs.
Results oC un-energized rod and pInte
000
-1. 00
"'"
-2 .00
o
e -3.00
o
'i
-4 .00
"O
t'CI
....
-5.00 O)
Q)
e
-6 .00
-7.00
-8 .00
Number of days
Fig. 8.6 DegradO/ion palian 01 un- cod and plate.
Agirrg I nt'esri$aIlQII af Po/yml!tic Jnsu'Olors.
Pi<. IJ TI" .... ,. ('F.T 7fui/a. PaklSlon. Mny 2007
--+- Rod
----- Plate
134
Aging ofpolvme/'ic imuJalQf':i ill higlllv aollmed emironnuml (}(Paki.:'.!atl
8.4.2 Hydropbobicity
The resul ls of hydrophobicity of energized insulators, energized rod and plate, un-
energizcd insulators and un-energized rod and pi ate are shown in Figures 8. 7 through
8. 10.
Results of eoergized insulators
2
3 . 5
en
<=
3

o

2 5


(J
""
2
::s
1-

en
1 .5

:.c
1 o
.=
"'-
/
"
_1-_ L
\',
----

-
--
E -1 2 1-SS0 80-SB
...
/
---
E - 1 2 1 - S C 080-SB
---- - -- - no. " . _1
E:-1 21-SES 050-SB
e
o. 5
-c
>..
=
o I .
o 100 2 0 0 300 400
N umber 0 1' da y.
Fig. 8.7 Hy drophohiciry do,'"ificalio" o[ encrgi=ed muIO/ors.
Results of energized rod and plate
e
4. 5
-
--
el
. E
4
'E
3 .5
o
<>
3
<>
'"
2.5
u
-
:r: o:: 2
- 1-
1.5

1
.o
.- .
/
./
./"
. --.......
1 /
1/
Y
o
0 .5
.c
Q.
O
o
,

'O
>.
o 100 200 300 4 00
:r:
Number of days
Fig. 8.8 cla.Hiflculion vf energi=ed rod and plale.
Agif/g Inl'f!srigalioll ofPolymerc
Plt () The .... 1'F:r Ta.'tila. PakiSNlfl .. \ fay 2007
_ Red
--- Pl ate
135
Results oC un-ucrgized insulators
-B
4 5
en
4 e
:.e
3 . 5
o
u
3 u
=
(J _ 2 . 5
= "'" 2
- >-
gtl> 1 . 5
u
:..a 1
o
--a.. 0 5
e o
-o
>.
=

I
I
J
/
I-=>
o 100 2 0 0 3 00
Number of days
4 0 0
_. --;J
E- 121 - S S0BO-SB
E- 121-SC09Q-SB
E-121 - SES050-SB
Fig. 8. 9 Hydrophobioily classijic(J/ioll ol lln-energf=ed hUl/lotors.
Rcsults or uo-coergized rod lIod plate
o
2.5
-
,
C>
s::
Cl1crt !.re!!! J
"O
2
....
. -
I
o
u
1,)
1.5
('IJ
()
-
:J: ~
1 -1-
~ / )
L
I
-+- Rod
/
---Plate
-
,..
~ ~
~
u
0. 5
:o
o
.c:
el.
O
o
,
...
"O
>-
o 100 200 300 400
:J:
Number of days
Fig. 8.10 Hy drophobicirr "' ,mijieotion 01 m-""crgi:ed rod Qnd plate.
SmalI er and circular drops are fornled on a hydrophobic surface as compared to a
hydrophilic surface. In general. il has also been observed thar over Ihe surface of a single
shed. the outer edges of shed suffer more hydrophobicily los5 as compared 10 inner edges,
and accordi ngly gel larger water droplet accumulation. Overall insulalors maintained
Api/lg Imwigation of Po/Ym2.rlc ft/ ..mlaIGrs,
Ph D {/i'!$ IS. {;-:T Ta.'rila. Po)(islan. Ala), 2(j(J7
136
good hydrophohicity, It has also been observed that hydrophobieity loso is directlv
proporlional lO cOlllact area of sal11ple "ilh environmcnl as reporled by 11,2,3 J,
8,4,3 Leakage current measurement
Th" SiR insul alors have sho\\1l l11uch lo"er valucs of k akage current comparcd \vi th
thos measured on porcelain insulators as reported in the literalur", During lhe firsl three
mOnlhs of !,,"ka:;;e eurrent l11easurement. the illsulator remained dry, lhe typical obscrved
\alue " as . IV\ which rose lo a 01' 6 in fir st lhree months, It \Vas observccl
lllal under dry conditions. as e,Xpecteu, lherc was no signi IIcan! change of leakage currenl
on polymeric insulators even ir lhere is an increase of pol hlli on leve!. During hea\\
rainfall in July anu Augusl 2006 lhe Icabge current incrcased up lo 50 tiA, The currenl
reduced to 15-25 ,1IA afler rain fall. \\ hcn high humidi ty pre\'ai1cd after rain in lhese t\\o
monlhs, But lhe rain \\ashes pollution a\\'ay rom lhe shed. ancl sllbsequent leakage
Cllrrent reducecl [O its original \'allle 01' p'\, Tbe km \ alue of Icakage current is an
inuirecr indicali on lhat lhe SiR inSlIlall)rs ha\ e conSistenll )' maimai neo hydrophobicil \'
[4. 81
The anal)'sis ol' pollul ion on the sheds of un-energi7cd insulalors inuicmes rha! lhe
pohmcri c inslllalors rctain less slI rfacc pollLllion, Bur as stated in lhe lireraturc. at l11an,
places thai poli TllCric insulators halo more poll ulion lo ihe sLlrfaee r 1 ,8J, This (Iel is tru
only in lhose situat ions. \\here it becomes diffi clllt 10 eftectivel)' rcmove all lhc
contami narlts from lhe polymeric in;ulalOrs which resullS in mOfe accul11ulati on as
compared 10 ceramic insu!ators in spitc ol' being. bOlh c1 eancd alter same lime inlervals.
But even \\lt11 some sl ick\ poll ution. lhe POI:"l1cric insulal0r maintains its hyclrophobicil)
rol' long dural ion srleh as 2 10 5 ycars, From ahl)\ C di scussi ulls. il can be projecled lhal
polvmeric insu!alur stuclicd in his rcsearch ha\'e 10 limit leakage currenl and , ho\\
good hydrophobic performance e\ ll \\'il\1 same alt<!chcd poll uti on and have good
pOlential 10 be praclicall" empl oycJ on distribulion and transmission nCl\vorks in
f' Jk stan,
I m"<J!-OfICm aJ P o/)"mene I ns;lt;!O,s.
137
/JI: D Tifes} , ' l:.T Ta:r:. /(z, Po{sran Jk.l:
('l(;WIi#r -$ Aging o( ooiymeric /11 highll, f' H Vjrol llt/(' /I{ al Pal:rs twl
8.5 Summary of Results
Complele SUmml r\ or lhe rcsults of r: nR a11(1 hydrophobicit) are sUl1lmarized in Tables
8.2 and 8.3.
S. 2 Summary of resull , of FTI R ami hydrophobicily classili cation of energi zed
oUldoor li cld samplcs encrgil.ed on 'vl arch 25, 2006 .
. _--
Insu lator
p ....
Imulillor Insulalor Insuhllor
R"d
Plotl('
f:.JllsS080-S B E- 121 -ScotJ osn E-121 -SlS05osn

le ngll.
Id,H ,)
%
I
%
.'
,
% ..
Ch:l.ngc Ihdro. Chlt ng('
l"'lr.' 1 Ch",,",
Challgr
ab!urp, cl:l s_" a h"Ul'fl , d ;H\ . ah! CI .p. d a" , , b\u.rp, :1h.,;orp, d"s ....
c-'
r ,,(jo fluio rati-o rallo rati O
"
O lO HCI .(; 20 Hel .:!. 7tJ HU O " iJ Hel I bU HCI
'lO
I
28to He 2 -080 He H) H<.: 1 n 8n HCl 1 2U tIC]
l 50 316 He}
1
1 He 1
-l 70 ,d I fl 3 He 3 o i O He.
14n 005 He J .).
He .z -1 u ''0 Hel I
o
HC J -4 70 HU
-
Tabl e 8.3 Summary ofre sull s ofFTI R and h\'drophohi city cl assific3l ion of un-energi zcd
s31llples ex posed 10 natura! \\'eathcring on t,larch 25. 2006.

r-
1.\ p
In ... ul:llor In\ult tor r
Plah:
f.....PQ5 un ..
L- 121 .. '5S080SB (I! I -Sr-O'Jf'I :--'B


'ro Hydro, % 1I,I Om,
1 I J, dril.
.. flydro.
C hl H:;!l" Ch:.mgt ('I;H\, ( Change
A b,orp. ::1 iI b)flrp.
rlll l in r"li " r"th'
r :(10 fllli D
..L'i -] JO HCI 50 Hel - 1 U HCi 040 lICI 000 lI CI
90 .l.s He 3 - 50 IIC J -2 la H.:.. 0W IIC 1 1 10 I IU
1; 0
",b)
He J H) 2r)
I
IIC; :!IHO 11<.4
I
1 1)3 HC 1 -1.30 HCl
')lO
-8 "O 2 -9 61) He; -1 .. I He .. (( 93 HC 1 - 100
1 110
Agmg I nwstrgaIJ(!fll.J) Pot,mel'ic Il1srdcrl m's.
138
PI D Thl!,\{\', l.. ET la.\do, PC,Al:;ral1. ,Ha,l H)fF
( IrOOltr > .-1 ginE' o[ eoll,imcr h.' " ..mlators m higM,: ll QlIlI IJld e1n-irqnmr:?t/I o{Pa./S1<.JII
8.6 Oiscussion
The highest val ue of degradat ion shl""n by FTIR is -20 % for un-cncrgized insulator.
" hile no cl1crgized insulator has shown degradation grcalcr Ihan -1 1.4 %, Thc other un-
energized samplcs also ha"" hight:r degradation al 1258 " 'a",, number as comparcd to
energizt'd samp]es, These result s are not uncxpected becausc ,,'C observed in laborator)
aging stud) that cnergizcd insulators inili ally degrade slowl) but for a long period and
then restore s lowly such that the un-energi/cd samples ma) complete t\Vo cycles al
degradatiorHesloralion in on" e)ele oC the C' nerg ized ,amples, In thi s study, the energized
insul ators ha" c nOl yct compleled their degradmion pllase, ",hile Ihe un-encrgized ha,e
completed the dcgradat ion phase anel ha Ve stan ed reslaration, These obscrval ions
ind icate that los5 01' hydrophobicil) is almost indepcndent oC energization, Thi s is in fael
related 10 washing and Ihe greatcr dcpt h of pollution 3lbal'ption, The efrcet prodllced by
energizali on is only lO make hydrophobicit v loss li near: i,c, a s,unple degrades in a fixcd
patlern "ilh time, whilc un-energj zed samples s\\i ng acrass large random values of
degradat ion ",ith lime, lh.: ti ndi ng reponed in literature pre\iously [5.61 that polluti on
plays a11 important role in the change ol' contact angle of siliconc rubber. \Vas also
confi rmecl by the author. This has be en \' rified tllHmgh anal\'sis of SEM dala, Surlacc
rupture al micro level was al so obs[\'ed in ,ome samples as sho" n in Fig, 8,11 , 1I ,,'as
observed that i ncreased pollution lewl 011 tlle resuls in bighcr rollghness whi ch
accordingly increases lhe co ntact angl e,
fig. S.ll SF,\f .w(jacc: i"fipW/"t:. Ile/o and C!..rlYcmc r(III.r.:hne.n (riRhl) al 500 X zoom
olPO{j"nll.;r,oc (ttJ.ulalors.
tI, D Tf.:.J,< CE[ ra.;\"I{U. PakJS{(JI). l/m :0(;-
139
ChoQre r S
CombinCltiOIl oi" LV radiation and high temperature (as they exist m olltdoor
tnyironment) st rongly eontributes ro transfer spced of the 10\V-molecular "'cight
c:omponents and hydrophobicity reclAcry of polllltion layer. l his is the rcason tha! our
samples ha\e sho",n rapid recovery o' hydrophobicity in summer season compnred ",ith
of ,ear. I ka\ y rainfall reduces the abilit) to the transfer of UvlW components and
of the' hydrophobici ty is restricted for about t\l O months, This may be due to the
remo\'ill of sorne Ud\\' eomponems along \\ith the pollution la ver that washcs out wi th
rain [7,8 1,
llvdroph bicit )' rcdllct on ",ith time is al\lays a coneern to long-lerm performance of
polymeric insulators in all kine!;; oC areas especially one invcstigated in this rescarch,
11\'(lropllOhicity lo:;s is primaril) due to loss of lo\\' molecular weight components from
surlce b\' \1 as hing callsed b\ acid rain ele, and its recoV'cry is thollgh adsorption process
(a Iso called diffllsion) 01' L'dW componenl from insidc (bulk of insulator) to the surfacc
and,'or polllllion layer. This adsorpt ion can he either ph, sical or cbelllical in nalure, Tlle
",et-abilit\, ol" polllltants is therelore, determincd mailll y by the adsorbed hydrophohic
1.\ 1\V components, The pbvsical shape has also he"n f lI11J to h<l\'c al1 effeet on the \\ct -
abil it" \lhich ma)' be dllc to dilTerent degrees of rotlghness and auachmcnt and rctcnti on
of contaminants which are great ly shape dependent.
Sil11il arly, micro-dcposi tion plays an important role OIl lhe hydrophobicily transfcr. The
hydrophobicilY 01' composilc pollutants manifests the il11ponance of dcposiling status, .. \s
water \'apOri7.s. "Iael and other soluhle sal!> 510\\ 1, cr, stal lize 011 the sur faee of sall1pks
anJ creme" surfacc salt deposit layer, Since salt distributed 110n-ul1iforml,'
o\'er the surface therefore. tbe ,' cause Inrger lhe hydrophobicit y graduall y
decreascs \\' ith lhe increase of sal t and cOllsequcnt lv contact 3.11 gle increases, In industrial
en\ironment. polllltants deposiled on insublors \lere found l11ainl, to he inert in l1ature
and hcncc ,i lieolle rubber ll1ai ntained \!ood hydrophubic it y,
\\' hcl1 \\e intcnd lO tes t large SiR il1s lI lators in 'Oll1 pletel ,' hydrophili c status, kaolin
perhars is more suit able beca use pollution a plication \\ ill consume ll1uch more time and
,-/glllg (J} b.sd.J/ors
140
?Ir D Tlres,. i 1:. r Tw: da. P'lkISfan . . \/il r
hydrophohicit\, rcc:ovcry ma\' occur. fhe samples removed sho\\' high non-soluble
cl eposil derl Sil) (NSDD) ancl equivalent salt deposit densit\ (ESDD) surface erosion,
Inorganic salls. no maller soluble or non-sol uble, can nOI exhibil hydrophobicity evcn
after a long rest lime. Metal oxides and cement ",ill al so present excelIent
hydrophobicity.
Peak degradation 01' cnergi;:ed and un-energi zcd pIntes are more lhan lhe corresponding
rod srunples : highli ghting the effect 0 (' shape on degradatin. Out 0(' aII samples. un-
energized E1 2l SES-030-SB insulator has sho\\n maximum degradati on (-20.6 %) and it
is also the onl y snrllpIe on which slighl odor and changc of color \\ as observed.
8.7 ConcJusions
:Vlost 0[' lhe s rnples have exhibitcd the phenornena or clastic recovcry as re por1l'd
prc\'iousl v by many researchers. lhe,e samples haye 1'0110\\ ct a pcriodic degradali on
t"r "ix !O eight months ror \' ari ous sarnples anel ro \arious degrees. Thi s was follo\\'cel
bv Ihe restorti on pl18se. :-:ci thcl' dgradation nor rcslOrat ioll is equal for any t\\' o
samples. E\'cry sample has sho\\ n a unique bcJwvior. 3lrhough all sarnples were 01'
same material. [t appears frolll these fi ndings lhat oC rhe sarnple has a great
inf1uence on dcgradatioll restoralion proc ss.
.<\ set nI' sarnplcs have 5ho\\' <1 onl \ a constant hut , Jllall 3mounl 01' increa, ing
degradation ami all 01' tbese samples hale not 5ho\\ n 3ny recover)' after 18 n1 onlhs.
This ill ::t\ be callccl a unique aging profi le, 1-I 0\\ c\ cr. he degradation cmrsed in these
samples \\'as \ 'a y low compar d ro fi rs\ group 01" samples ",he re recovery proce:is
began \\ ithin (, lO 8 months.
In a broader contcxl. the dcgradati on or agi ng ohscr'\ eJ during th is sludy is onl\
marginal ii nd 01' no practical signifi cance. The resulls 01' this study though limiled are
quite encouragi ng on the performance of pOl \'nleric insul alor in Paki slani
en \' rOllll1enl .
A uf i; jlm:! s'Jg,wrm <>1 PO!J'menc l Jl.'iIl /{ uor :i.
Ph o Tl:,L\.'.'i. ( [. T r u..:cda. PaJ.J:i wn .\la)
141
Cllom.!. ,. 1I Agll1g o(roJ1'Intrrc- inWI CJIQr S m higld\ uolJufC{/ enn'r QI1IJI ,f' I1( Qt P a!Uff:1I
8.8 References
r I J K. ShanmL " Poiy m1' r 111s1.IImors ". \\ \\w.asd.ab.ca/pdffi les/trt icld.pdf. pp.6.
[2] R. Vl atsuoka . . \;J. lshi,,ari. H. Shi nokllbo and K. Kondo .. "Field l eSI r esuil.\ ol /JOl plla
insrdalOrs " , 1 0
1
), ISI-/. Canada. :\ugUSl 1997.
[3J R. Sundararajan. J. Graves. A . vlohammed. and :l,. BakeL ' Pcr!orll/unce evu"ulIio"
of pO(\"JJ/l'ric insulmor.\" aged in lah (//!{I./i1'hl"" . fE EE PO\\'er Engineering SOCiel)
General vleeling. Vol. l . pp. 214 -224. Jul y 2003.
(41 Raj i Sundararajan. i\reef vl ohammad. Nopporn Chai panit. Tim Karcher and
Zhenquan I.i ll . "'1n-sO" \"i a agi og une! degradO/ion 01 3-15 kV Ef'DM Ir{l/1smissiol1
fine in.w/(l/ ors i n (/ coasw! 1'17\)ro/1I/1('I1/ .. IEEE Trans. DLI. Vol. I L No. 2, pp. 348-
361. 2004.
[51 J. P. Re) nders. l. R . .Iandrel!. ami S. v!' Kcynders. "SurlaC<' agcing mechanisnrs alU!
Iheir ndal iol7.\hip ro serl"i ce f!crli ml1{{;1ce oj' .,icon" rubber insul{/{ion", 1 Oth
Intcrnational Symposiulll on ll igil Voltage Engineering. London. UK, 22-27 AugUSL
pp. 54-58. 1999
[6] R. \;I atslloka, K. :--Jaita, T. lries. K.Kondo, "L\"al uation merhod\ o{po!y",,,r illS,,!cavr.\
IImkr cO/1ltl l1iinaled condil ;OI1S" . T ransmission and Dist ributioll Conferenc(,' and
Lx hi ition 2002 Asia Pacitic. IEEE PES. j . 6-10. pp. 21 97-2202. Oct. 2002.
[7 1 K. Sarathi, S. Chandrasekar. V. Sahari Giri. C. \' enkal3seshai ah and R. Velmurugan
" .lna(!,sis o/ surlace degrada/ ion o( higir denl"ily polyelhY!N7e material dile /O
Iyackif/g" . Bull. .Vlaler. Sc i .. Vol. 27. "".3. pp. 251-262. Indian Acadclll \' 01'
Sci erKc" ;. Junc 2004.
l Sal man .'\ 111 in. "/lg ing 01 polymer ic islI/a/or", in hif,// )" J()!! i'1 etl e /1viro l1l11e nI .,
.\ !sc. 1 h,>,i s l l U. Taxila. Feb. 2007.
Aging uf Pol\'merlf:
Ph D ( E.l {m {o . PaldslOJ? ,ll a,l lO":"
142
Chapter r; Overo!! lOllclll.OI1
Chapter 9
Overall Conclusions
As a part oCthis dissertat ion. different experimental setups for testing practical pol)'meric
insulators (l rr V-SiR wilh ATH and silica. the best available) and other insul ating
materials "we des igned. fabrica led and commissioned. Special chambers were designed
ro sirnulalc diJTerent weat her cyc les represenling several regions in Paki stan. The mai n
focus remained on laborator)' silllulali on s tudies. Ho\\cvcr. ficld performance oC
polymcric insulators \Va s also in vcsti gated at tvvo typical locali ons rC[Jresenting cl ean ane!
i nduslrial l \ '-conl<lTIlinated si tes.
Overal!. under condit ions silllu lali ng Paki stani environmcnts. the SiR il1sul alors di spl aycd
heir special characleristi cs i. e. their abilil)' to ha ve a periodic degradati on I restorati on
cycle . Thi s "as dcpicled evcn in the mOSI severe environment simulated in the laborator)'
as weli as at an induslri al sit e expcriencing different types of induslri al [J olluli on Hnd
The mosl severe degradation (-22.69 %.) \Vas observed in the laboralory when
samples \Vere exposed to severe L V radialion. In field aging. lhe mosl se vere degradmion
(-29 %.) in clean area which also substantiales the observati on lhal lhi ck
ayer of poll ulioll aet, as prolec li on cover againsl LV radiations. Dllring all lhi s research
\\'ork. no irr " ers ible degradalioll (s uch as erosion or lracking) was observed.
Thc outCOlll\! of this research has sali sfac lorily addressed lhe mmn obj ecti ves oC lhi s
proj ect \\'hich deal t \\' ilh lhe long- lerrn performance of polymeric insulat ol' s in Paki slan.
\Vhile silllulating the multi-st ress aging. lhe severity level oC parameler \\'as
enhanccd to a llluch higher Ievel which amo ul1ted to field s imu lali oll oC aboul 13 years in
Paki stan. 'l'l1c practieal polymeric insulators and other insul ating samples recovered lheir
hyclrophobic characteristics even afier eX[Josure lo very severe simul ated envirOnllle nl.
Aging I nn.'Sliga/icm 0./ PoJymcric mll/arors
p,,- D Thesis. L'ET Tarda. Pakis{(/!1 .. \lay 2n07
143