Effect of additives on treeing initiation as a function of oxygen concentration in polyethylene

Author

Rasikawan, S. ; Shimizu, N.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Nagoya Univ., Japan

Volume

27

Issue

6

fYear

1992

fDate

12/1/1992 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1089

Lastpage

1094

Abstract

The effect of additives on treeing initiation was studied in low-density and cross-linked polyethylene (LDPE and XLPE) under various conditions. The additives suppress the initiation of the deteriorated region, which is a precursor of the tree initiation, and increase the tree starting voltage. This effect was found to be a function of oxygen concentration absorbed in PE; observable when the sample is equilibrated with atmospheres with a range of oxygen from 1 ppm to 10%. Also the effect of additives is not as clear at 77 K as it is at room temperature, and differs for impulse and AC voltage. These results can be explained by the following model. (1) Free radicals are generated in the high field region by carriers injected from the electrode. (2) The free radicals react with oxygen to produce chain scission of the PE molecule, especially if no additives are present. (3) Additives stabilize the free radicals against reaction with oxygen molecules

Keywords

electric breakdown of solids; insulation testing; materials testing; organic insulating materials; polymers; 20 C; 77 K; AC voltage; LDPE; O₂ concentration; XLPE; additives effect; chain scission; cross-linked polyethylene; deteriorated region; equilibrated with atmospheres; free radicals; impulse voltage; low density polyethylene; model; polyethylene; room temperature; tree starting voltage; treeing initiation; treeing suppression; Additives; Atmosphere; Needles; Oxygen; Polyethylene; Polymers; Steel; Temperature; Trees - insulation; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Electrical Insulation, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9367

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/14.204858

Filename

204858