{"title":"Degradation of HTV silicone rubber in composite insulators under UVB-corona coupling effect in simulated plateau environments","authors":"Shiyin Zeng, Wendong Li, Xin Zhao, Yanan Peng, Yuelin Liu, Xinyi Yan, Guanjun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111354","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a widely used external insulation for composite insulators, the aging behaviors of high-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTV-SR) in plateau regions are affected by various environmental factors. This study investigates the aging mechanisms of HTV-SR under simulated plateau conditions, considering the ultraviolet B (UVB) and corona coupling effects. By analyzing the surface morphology, structural, mechanical and electrical properties under constant corona voltage and varying UVB levels, the synergistic and competitive effects of these two factors are explored. The results show that pure UVB aging induces mild degradation, characterized by uniform surface oxidation and chalking. Besides, pure corona aging leads to severe localized deterioration, causing uneven oxidation, carbonization, and a reduction in flashover voltage. Under combined aging, intense UVB exposure accelerates crack propagation and carbonization due to rapid oxygen depletion, increasing crosslink density and interfacial polarization. In contrast, weak UVB exposure prioritizes oxygen consumption, suppresses corona aging, promotes uniform oxidation and reduces trap energy levels, improving surface resistivity. Further analysis based on quantum chemistry calculations reveals the uniform crosslinking surface formed under weak UVB has shallow traps, which improves the electrical properties. Finally, the elongation at break of artificially and naturally aged HTV-SR are compared, validating the effectiveness of the artificial aging method. This study provides valuable insights into the weather resistance and lifespan assessment of HTV-SR, contributing to improved reliability and durability of composite insulators in plateau environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 111354"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141391025001843","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/4/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"POLYMER SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
As a widely used external insulation for composite insulators, the aging behaviors of high-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTV-SR) in plateau regions are affected by various environmental factors. This study investigates the aging mechanisms of HTV-SR under simulated plateau conditions, considering the ultraviolet B (UVB) and corona coupling effects. By analyzing the surface morphology, structural, mechanical and electrical properties under constant corona voltage and varying UVB levels, the synergistic and competitive effects of these two factors are explored. The results show that pure UVB aging induces mild degradation, characterized by uniform surface oxidation and chalking. Besides, pure corona aging leads to severe localized deterioration, causing uneven oxidation, carbonization, and a reduction in flashover voltage. Under combined aging, intense UVB exposure accelerates crack propagation and carbonization due to rapid oxygen depletion, increasing crosslink density and interfacial polarization. In contrast, weak UVB exposure prioritizes oxygen consumption, suppresses corona aging, promotes uniform oxidation and reduces trap energy levels, improving surface resistivity. Further analysis based on quantum chemistry calculations reveals the uniform crosslinking surface formed under weak UVB has shallow traps, which improves the electrical properties. Finally, the elongation at break of artificially and naturally aged HTV-SR are compared, validating the effectiveness of the artificial aging method. This study provides valuable insights into the weather resistance and lifespan assessment of HTV-SR, contributing to improved reliability and durability of composite insulators in plateau environments.
期刊介绍：
Polymer Degradation and Stability deals with the degradation reactions and their control which are a major preoccupation of practitioners of the many and diverse aspects of modern polymer technology.
Deteriorative reactions occur during processing, when polymers are subjected to heat, oxygen and mechanical stress, and during the useful life of the materials when oxygen and sunlight are the most important degradative agencies. In more specialised applications, degradation may be induced by high energy radiation, ozone, atmospheric pollutants, mechanical stress, biological action, hydrolysis and many other influences. The mechanisms of these reactions and stabilisation processes must be understood if the technology and application of polymers are to continue to advance. The reporting of investigations of this kind is therefore a major function of this journal.
However there are also new developments in polymer technology in which degradation processes find positive applications. For example, photodegradable plastics are now available, the recycling of polymeric products will become increasingly important, degradation and combustion studies are involved in the definition of the fire hazards which are associated with polymeric materials and the microelectronics industry is vitally dependent upon polymer degradation in the manufacture of its circuitry. Polymer properties may also be improved by processes like curing and grafting, the chemistry of which can be closely related to that which causes physical deterioration in other circumstances.
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