Estimating the erosion and degradation performance of ceramic and polymeric insulator materials in high current arc environments

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · IEEE Transactions on Magnetics (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

OSTI ID:5609332

Engel, T G; Kristiansen, M; O'Hair, E ^[1]; Marx, J N ^[2]

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1. Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering
2. Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry

This paper reports on the rates of erosion and voltage holdoff degradation which are critical parameters when selecting insulator materials that are used in pulsed power devices such as spark gaps, surface discharge switches, and electromagnetic launchers. This investigation is concerned with modeling the erosion and holdoff degradation performance of various commercially available polymeric and ceramic insulators. The insulators are tested on a surface discharge switch at {approximately}300 kA in atmospheric air. Test diagnostics include the surface voltage holdoff recovery and the eroded mass loss of the insulator and electrode materials used. The ceramic materials which were tested include several types of aluminum and magnesium silicates, several alumina and zirconia composites, and aluminum and silicon nitride. The polymeric insulators include polyvinyl chloride, low and high molecular weight polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide, acetyl, polyamide-imide, and several types of glass-reinforced epoxies, melamines, and phenolics.

• OSTI ID: 5609332
• Report Number(s): CONF-9004136-; CODEN: IEMGA; TRN: 92-009421
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Magnetics (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Vol. 27:1; Conference: 5. IEEE symposium on electromagnetic launcher technology, Destin, FL (United States), 1-5 Apr 1990; ISSN 0018-9464
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ELECTRICAL INSULATORS
MATERIALS TESTING
PULSED REACTORS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CERAMICS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRITICALITY
ELECTRODES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
POLYMERS
REINFORCED MATERIALS
SILICON NITRIDES
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS
NITRIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PNICTIDES
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
700411* - Inertial Confinement Devices- (1992-)
360204 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Physical Properties
360604 - Materials- Corrosion
Erosion
& Degradation
360605 - Materials- Radiation Effects