Discharges on insulator surfaces after voltage reversal

Author

Kliem, H. ; Hessler, A. ; Arlt, G.

Author_Institution

Inst. fur Werkstoffe der Elektrotech., Aachen Univ. of Technol., West Germany

fYear

1988

fDate

16-20 Oct 1988

Firstpage

382

Lastpage

387

Abstract

An avalanche effect along insulator surfaces in a metal-insulator-metal structure was studied experimentally. A physical model is proposed to explain the observed current spikes. According to this model, during negative poling, voltage corona charging from the edge of the electrode to the neighboring insulator surface occurs. The charges are trapped in surface states. The voltage ramp releases these charges in opposite directions by coulombic attraction. The charges are then accelerated towards the electrode and initiate an avalanche. The waiting time t_w influences the threshold voltage in a specified way. The trapped charges seem to increase their own trap depth during t_w

Keywords

corona; discharges (electric); electron avalanches; insulation testing; metal-insulator-semiconductor structures; avalanche effect; coulombic attraction; current spikes; insulator surfaces; metal-insulator-metal structure; negative poling; physical model; surface states; threshold voltage; trap depth; trapped charges; voltage corona charging; voltage ramp; voltage reversal; waiting time; Current measurement; Electric breakdown; Electric variables measurement; Glass; Insulation; Polyimides; Stress measurement; Surface discharges; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, 1988. Annual Report., Conference on

Conference_Location

Ottawa, Ont.

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CEIDP.1988.26362

Filename

26362