ON THE DEGRADABILITY AND DURABILITY OF POLYMER INSULATION IN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Abstract

The term POLYMER MATERIALS encompasses a wide range of substances with multiple properties, uses, and costs, whose technical and economic qualities have been shaped by political, social, and cultural dynamics. Currently, this issue is being addressed in an increasing number of disciplines, from chemistry, physics, materials science, and engineering to design, museology, arts, and environmental studies. Current debates relate to tensions surrounding plastics used in various fields, focusing on their indispensable role in modern life and their significant impact on the environment.

The widespread use of polymer materials as insulators in electrical and electronic equipment is due to their properties, which make them resistant to a wide range of stresses in various environments. However, historical research has highlighted two aspects that can contribute to understanding polymeric materials and improving their properties: DEGRADATION—as a loss of functional capacity under stress—and DURABILITY—as the ability to maintain functional properties over a long period of time. The inconsistency between degradation and durability remains a current research issue: how can the degradation processes of polymer insulations be slowed down and how can their durability be improved so that they can be used for as long as possible?

The objective of this paper is to analyze and demonstrate, through a systemic approach, the efforts made by scientists to clarify and resolve the inconsistency between degradability and durability in the case of plastic polymers used as electrical insulators in cables and electrical machines.

A brief history of polymer materials is presented, starting with the use of natural rubber, natural resins, and bakelite, up to the rise of plastics with the introduction of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) in the 1950s and later, with the introduction of micro- and nanocomposites. The bibliometric study highlights the success of current research on improving the lifespan of polymers. The concepts of failure, degradation, and aging are analyzed, and current models for extrapolating the lifespan of polymer materials used as electrical insulation in the construction of cables and electrical machines are presented systematically.

The analysis shows that research on the mechanisms of aging and degradation of plastics used as electrical insulation has contributed to the understanding of internal interactions at the molecular/atomic level and the interaction of plastics with external factors that act as stressors. Applied research is needed to highlight the behavior of new composite materials used as electrical insulators. The design of new electrical insulators should take into account their durability and the possibilities for their reuse and recycling at the end of their life cycle.