Studies on erosion of silicone rubber exposed to partial arc discharges

The effect of electrolyte conductivity on the partial arc discharge development between two electrolyte electrodes on a silicone rubber sheet surface was investigated. Tests were executed by placing the salt-waterlogged glass-filter paper on a silicone rubber sheet to simulate a polluted electrolyte layer, and partial arc discharges with a constant current value of 10 mA were observed. It was found that the formation of an arc channel and a temperature distribution on the sample surface varied with the electrolyte conductivity. In addition, the relation between the electrolyte conductivity and the weight loss due to the heat erosion of specimens was also investigated by a 3D morphological observation and a simulated calculation. The partial arc discharge did significantly not influence on the sample surface erosion under serious polluted conditions. In contrast, the severest erosion appeared under the light pollution with comparatively lower conductivity of the electrolyte electrodes. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.