Radiation-Induced Degradation Phenomena in Electrical Insulating Oils

A mineral oil and a synthetic oil consisting of aromatic constituents were each irradiated by γrays at both room temper-ature ture and abo°t 70OC; the degree of the degradation was analyzed by means of gas chromatograms. The results showed that synthetic oil consisting of diarylalkane hydrocarbons has superior radiation-resistant properties. In addition, when mineral oil containing sulfur compounds was irradiated by γ-rays in the presence of copper strips, the observed copper corrosion was slightly more rapid than that observed without irradiation.