On the breakdown strength of silicone rubber

Polymeric materials are an alternative to porcelain and glass regarding outdoor HV insulators. Silicone rubber appears to be one of the main candidates to replace porcelain and glass. Although much work has already been done regarding the behavior of complete polymeric insulators in the laboratory and in the field, relatively little is known with respect to the breakdown strength of silicone rubber. In this paper the breakdown strength of silicone rubber with respect to gap spacing and the electrical behavior of built-in interfaces inside the silicone rubber are investigated.<
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