Aging Evaluation of Silicone Rubber Composite Insulators with Long-Term Operation in the Outdoor

Silicone rubber composite insulator is an indispensable component of power system, which has been widely used. The aging characteristics of insulators is a hot topic and the key to ensure safe operation. The aging characteristics of silicone rubber composite insulators for long outdoor operation were analyzed by testing the WCA, Shore hardness, FTIR, micromorphology, element content and type. The results show that the text shed sample can still maintain strong hydrophobicity during long outdoor operation, and its surface shore hardness is mainly related to the production method. As the operating life increases, the peak value of Si-O and Si-CH3 on the surface of sheds decreases continuously. After aging, the microtopography of composite insulator shed is granular, in which the decomposition of C element is serious and various heavy metal elements exist.