Mechanical and electrical properties of mica/epoxy composite materials

Experiments on mechanical fatigue were conducted using the specimens which were cut from hydrogen cooled generator (rated 22 kV and 500 MW) stator windings. We have investigated the aging mechanism of mica/epoxy insulation systems under air or hydrogen by both the tensile and compressive loadings. The fracture of generator stator windings is generally affected by mechanical stress. Thus, the tensile strength tests were conducted. In this case, the maximum strength and strain are quite different between sound and aged specimens. It is observed that low bonded interface parts of tapes generally have lower strength than those of normal tapes which causes stress. In order to estimate the effects of cyclic load by the electromagnetic forces while the generator starts/stops, the mechanical fatigue test was also conducted. It is confirmed that the equation of expected life depends on stress amplitude and number of cycles. Though the stress amplitude and number of cycles are very tiny, the tensile fatigue of aged specimens under hydrogen atmosphere is bigger than those under air. In the case of hydrogen atmosphere, the tensile stress gives a bigger effect than the compressive one.