Evaluation methods on polymer materials for surface of outdoor insulators

Abstract

Performance of nonceramic insulators is strongly related to hydrophobicity of the surface. Therefore, it is useful to evaluate the characteristics of the surface of organic insulating materials. To characterize the methods for the evaluation, some measurements were conducted on silicon rubber (SR), EPDM, PMMA and polyethylene (PE). The influence of irradiation with a mercury lamp was detected through measurements of contact angle, formation time of water film, and mass analysis of released gases under irradiation of electron beam. Measurement of the contact angle by using polar and nonpolar liquids revealed that silicon rubber (SR) was the most resistant against UV radiation. SR also showed recovery of hydrophobicity after UV irradiation. Measurement of the current flowing across the surface of materials exposed to artificial fog showed good agreement to the measurement of contact angle. Infrared absorption spectroscopic analysis enabled the intensity of oxidation of highly UV-deteriorated organic insulating materials to be detected. Radicals on the surface of specimens were specified from the result of mass analysis of released gases. From these results, the nature of deterioration of organic insulating materials irradiated by UV is discussed.