What Are The Causes Of Surface Performance Degradation In Insulators?

porcelain dead end insulators During long-term operation, the surface insulation performance of an insulator gradually declines. Environmental factors, material aging, and surface contamination are the main factors affecting the insulation capacity of suspension insulator. The longer suspension composite insulator is exposed to high humidity, high temperature and industrial pollution environments, the more hygroscopic its surface becomes, the more concentrated the local electric field becomes, and the easier it is to form a surface leakage path.

Environmental Impacts and Material Aging

composite suspension insulator When the surface is exposed to wind, rain, ultraviolet radiation, and salt spray for a long time, surface microcracks gradually form.

• Humidity and water film effect: When the air humidity is high, the polymer suspension insulator surface adsorbs moisture, forming a continuous water film, which increases the surface conductivity.

• UV aging: Long-term UV exposure causes the molecular chains of the suspension type insulator surface material to break, resulting in a decrease in surface hardness.

• Temperature cycling: Under alternating high and low temperatures, composite tension insulator material generates thermal stress, microcracks propagate, and surface insulation properties decrease.

Surface Contamination and Discharge Phenomena

During operation, insulators accumulate dust, salt, and industrial particles, forming conductive paths and increasing surface leakage current. When contaminants combine with moisture, they easily trigger partial discharges, leading to the accumulation of electrical tracks on the surface.

• Contaminant Accumulation: Dust and salt cover the insulator surface, reducing insulation resistance.

• Partial Discharge: The electric field is enhanced beneath the contamination layer, causing localized flashovers, and electrical tracks gradually form on the insulator surface.

• Arc Effects: Repeated partial discharges damage the insulator surface material, reducing its withstand voltage performance.

In summary, the decline in the surface insulation performance of insulators is influenced by multiple factors, including the environment, material aging, and surface contamination. Scientific analysis of the insulator's operating environment and material characteristics helps to understand its performance degradation patterns and provides data references for subsequent maintenance.