Dielectric breakdown of polymeric insulation films under AC, DC and pulsed voltages

Polymeric insulation materials are widely used in power generation and energy storage apparatuses. Several examples are: dielectric films for capacitors and resistors; encapsulations for electronic components and devices; insulations for power cables and electrical machines. The dielectric breakdown behaviors of these insulation materials are dependent of electrical stress conditions, chemical structures and their application environment, such as temperature. In this paper, the electrical stress and chemical structure effects on breakdown strength of some typical insulation films are presented and discussed.