Abstract
Recently, polymer insulators that are used for high voltage applications have some advantages such as light weight, small size, vandalism resistance, hydrophobicity and easy making process. During outdoor service of polymer insulators, the surface of the insulating material is frequently subjected to moisture and contamination that lead to dry band arcing. Their tracking resistance, erosion resistance, end sealing and shed design are very important because dry band arcing causes degradation of polymer surface. Aging test to estimate life property of polymer insulator is executed through several international standard such as IEC 61109 and CEA tracking wheel test, but is not getting clear conclusion yet. There are two methods in the diagnosis method of polymer insulator such as off-line and on-line. The diagnosis methods in off-line are external condition analysis by the eye, contaminant analysis on surface, surface analysis, pollution withstand voltage test, power frequency flashover voltage test, lightning impulse flashover test, tensile fracture load test and flexural load test. Polymer material is also investigated it's tracking resistance by adding surface active agent in IEC 587. In this paper, the tracking performance of polymer insulator with salt solution which is added surface active agent. The diagnosis of insulator sample has been analyzed by leakage current and visual examination, STRI guide and thermal image camera.
