Updated evaluation of polymer films for electrical insulation

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6455550· OSTI ID:6455550

McCoy, Jr, H E

Several types of tests have been run on polymer film materials that could be useful for electrical insulation. The polymers studied were polyethylene terephtalate, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyetherimide, ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene, polyimide, polybutylene terephthalate, and a laminate of Kraft paper and polypropylene. Thermal aging tests were run to 60,000 h on several of the polymers, and the samples were evaluated by tensile tests, electrical breakdown tests, and immersion density measurements. Because of the wide range of potential service conditions, tensile tests were run on as-received materials over the temperature range of {minus}196 to 200{degree}C. Polyimide is probably the only material suitable for the extremes of this temperature range, but many of the other polymers would be suitable for intermediate temperatures. Creep tests were run in nitrogen and transformer oil at 90{degree}C. It was found that some polymers are weaker and less ductile in oil than in nitrogen and that other polymers have equivalent properties in the two environments. A means of applying mechanical, thermal, and electrical stresses simultaneously to polymer samples was developed. Tests were run at 90{degree}C in transformer oil on polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, and polyethersulfone. Tests thus far do not indicate that the creep rate is affected by the application of a 5 kV dc potential. 7 refs., 30 figs., 16 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6455550
• Report Number(s): ORNL-6603; ON: DE91000544
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
AGING
BREAKDOWN
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CREEP
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
ELONGATION
EVALUATION
IMIDES
INSULATING OILS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLYCARBONATES
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
SULFONES
TENSILE PROPERTIES