Analysis of electrical tracking by energy absorption during surface discharge in polymeric materials

The electrical tracking that occurs in polymeric materials used as electrical insulators is an undesired phenomenon. We developed a method to quantify the amount of energy dissipated during the occurrence of surface discharges based on the standard IEC 60112. The method uses the wave form factor of the electrical voltage on a sample as the main parameter to determine the integration period of the instantaneous power. The energy as a function of time shows linear behavior, and after a certain period, the change in the slope of this curve (mean power) indicates a new stage in the surface degradation process.