The effect of surface detorioration of thermoplastic materials in vacuum

Abstract

The paper describes the influence of sequential flashover numbers on the flashover voltage as well as on the surface deterioration of the polymethylmethacrylate, tetrafluoroethylene and polyethylene insulators in vacuum. Observations of track formation have been made by an electron microscope to examine the shape of the treed-tracks during their growth. Attempts have been made to explain the mechanism of flashover across thermoplastic materials in vacuum.