Detection of tracking carbon path using visual and thermal images

Visual and thermal image data are used to detect the progress of tracking deterioration on the surface of organic insulating materials. The visual and thermal images provide quantitative and real-time information regarding the propagation process of the carbon path. It was confirmed that the type of test sample determines the voltage dependence of the carbon path area, the flow of the leakage current in the carbon path, and the location of the high temperature regions. Furthermore, the temperature distribution and the leakage current density in the carbon path can be determined by the thermal image method.<>