Surface charge migration and dc surface flashover of surface-modified epoxy-based insulators

Epoxy-based model insulators were manufactured and fluorinated under a F2/N2 mixture (12.5% F2) at 50 °C and 0.1 MPa for 15 min and 60 min. Surface charge accumulation and decay behavior were studied with and without dc voltage application. The effect of direct fluorination on surface charge migration as well as on flashover voltage was verified. The obtained results show that the charge decay of epoxy-based insulators is a slow process, but the decay rate increases when an outer dc electric field is applied. The surface charge distribution is changed when a streamer is triggered on the insulator surface. The existence of heteropolarity surface charges can decrease the dc surface flashover voltage to some extent, while the surface flashover voltage is almost unchanged when charges of the same polarity accumulate on the insulator surface. The short time fluorinated insulator can modify the surface resistivity, and the rate of surface charge dissipation is greatly increased under a dc electric field.