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Self-Healable Electrical Insulation for High Voltage ApplicationsPolymeric aircraft electrical insulation normally degrades by partial discharge with increasing voltage, which causes excessive localized Joule heating in the material and ultimately leads to dielectric failure of the insulator through thermal breakdown. Developing self-healing insulation could be a viable option to mitigate permanent mechanical degradation, thus increasing the longevity of the insulation. Instead of relying on catalyst and monomer-filled microcapsules to crack, flow, and cure at the damaged sites described in well-published mechanisms, establishment of ionic crosslinks could allow for multiple healing events to occur with the added benefit of achieving full recovery strength under certain thermal environments. This could be possible if the operating temperature of the insulator is the same as or close to the temperature where ionic crosslinks are formed. Surlyn, a commercial material with ionic crosslinks, was investigated as a candidate self-healing insulator based off prior demonstrations of self-healing behavior. Thin films of varying thicknesses were investigated and the effects of thickness on the dielectric strength were evaluated and compared to representative polymer insulators. The effects of thermal conditioning on the recovery strength and healing were observed as a function of time following dielectric breakdown. Moisture absorption was also studied to determine if moisture absorption rates in Surlyn were lower than that of common polyimides.
Document ID
20170004480
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Williams, Tiffany S.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
May 8, 2017
Publication Date
April 2, 2017
Subject Category
Chemistry And Materials (General)
Electronics And Electrical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN39867
Meeting Information
Meeting: ACS Spring National Conference
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: April 2, 2017
End Date: April 6, 2017
Sponsors: American Chemical Society
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 533127.02.16.03.04
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
electrical insulation
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