Analysis of Discharge Erosion Processes in Epoxy Silica Nanocomposite

It is well documented that epoxy/nanofiller composites show superior PD resistant properties to neat epoxy resins, but the compositional changes in surface state during erosion have not been much investigated. This study clarified more detailed behaviors on the compositional change of atomic components precipitated on the surface of epoxy resin specimens after partial discharges (PDs) and glow discharges (GDs) by SEM-EDX method. Further, behaviors of carbon emission from epoxy resin being eroded during glow discharge were clarified by GD-OES method. It is suggested that preferential sputtering might take place in GD sputtering processes.