Chemometrics and Spectroscopy for Characterisation of Dielectric Materials

Chemometric software tools have been used to facilitate the enhanced investigation of dielectric materials in the laboratory, in manufacture and in application. These developments have made use of spectroscopic measurements for rapid and non-destructive chemical characterization, measurement of physical properties and performance, establishing structure-property relationships, materials condition assessment and quality assurance. This enables the methods to be applied at different points along the supply chain from materials research and development, to materials supply and use in manufacture, polymer and composite formulation and testing, insulation system manufacture, and finally condition assessment in manufacture, in service and at end of life.We illustrate the applicability of these methods to dielectric liquids as well as solid cable insulation by predicting structureproperty relationships, assessing thermal ageing and, critically, quantifying materials’ condition in service to support improved asset management, with examples drawn from transformers, insulators and cables.The paper will conclude with a view of the future application of these methods in materials research, manufacturing support and distributed spatial condition assessment for improved asset management.