Review of Aging Evaluation Methods for Silicone Rubber Composite Insulators

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Silicone rubber insulation is crucial for power systems but degrades under electrical and environmental stress.
• Aging reduces insulation performance and lifespan, potentially causing transmission line failures.
• Accurate evaluation of aged silicone rubber insulation is a significant industry challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the aging mechanisms of silicone rubber insulation materials.
• To critically analyze existing aging tests and evaluation methods for composite insulators.
• To explore emerging magnetic resonance detection techniques for assessing insulation aging.

Main Methods:

• Review of silicone rubber aging mechanisms under electrical and environmental stressors.
• Comparative analysis of conventional aging tests (e.g., thermal, UV, electrical aging).
• In-depth discussion of magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging for material characterization.

Main Results:

• Aging significantly impacts the physical and electrical properties of silicone rubber.
• Existing methods show limitations in accurately reflecting in-service aging conditions.
• Magnetic resonance methods offer promising non-destructive evaluation of aging-induced changes.

Conclusions:

• Understanding aging mechanisms is key to improving insulation durability.
• A combination of methods, including advanced magnetic resonance techniques, is needed for comprehensive aging evaluation.
• This work provides a framework for characterizing and evaluating aged silicone rubber insulation.