Flashover Performance and Arc Resistance of Surface Fluorinated Epoxy Insulators

This report demonstrates the effects of direct fluorination on the flashover performance and arc resistance of epoxy resin insulators. Two types of epoxy resin were investigated, which are anhydride-cured and amine-cured DGEBA epoxy resins. The former is the pure epoxy resin without any inorganic filler, and the latter is reinforced by the glass fiber. Similar effects of direct fluorination were found for the two types of epoxy resins. The dc flashover performance and arc resistance are definitely improved, although direct fluorination only leads to a marginal increase in ac flashover voltage in a fast rising voltage mode. The improvement in flashover performance is attributed to the increase in surface conduction. The enhancement in arc resistance is due to the formation of C-F bonds.