Recently, Professors Zhang Guixin and Dang Zhimin’s research group from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics (EEA), Tsinghua University published a review article titled “Polymeric Insulating Materials Characteristics for High-Voltage Applications” in the academic journal Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering. The article summarizes the failure mechanisms of polymer insulating materials in high-voltage environments and corresponding performance enhancement strategies, while also projecting future development directions for high-performance polymer insulating materials. This marks the first article in the high-voltage insulation field published by this journal. The first author is Wang Tianyu, a PhD graduate from EEA. The corresponding authors are Professors Zhang Guixin and Dang Zhimin from EEA, along with Associate Professors Mao Jie from Ningxia University and Zhang Boya from Xi’an Jiaotong University as co-corresponding authors.

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The large-scale transmission of electrical energy is fundamental to electrification, with high-voltage transmission being a crucial technical means to achieve this goal. Insulation issues pose a prominent challenge in high-voltage technology. Due to their superior insulation performance, corrosion resistance, chemical stability, ease of processing, and cost-effectiveness, polymers are widely used as core insulating frameworks in high-voltage electrical equipment. This review first outlines the application scenarios of polymer insulating materials in high-voltage contexts and the challenges they face in such environments.

Application of Polymer Insulating Materials in High-Voltage Transmission

The article then introduces the mechanisms of bulk breakdown in polymer insulating materials, discussing various strategies to enhance bulk breakdown strength from the perspectives of molecular design, free volume reduction, trap control, and barrier enhancement against electrical breakdown. Regarding surface flashover, the paper presents the main triggering factors for surface flashover in polymer insulating materials under different application scenarios by discussing surface charge accumulation, surface contamination, and secondary electron emission, along with corresponding enhancement strategies. Furthermore, the review addresses how polymer insulating materials can better adapt to various extreme environments, such as high temperatures, extreme lows, intense radiation, and strong corrosive conditions. Finally, the paper discusses unresolved issues related to high-voltage polymer insulation and anticipates future development directions.

Strategies for Enhancing Breakdown Strength of Polymer Insulating Materials

Triggering Factors for Surface Flashover in Polymer Insulating Materials and Enhancement Strategies

Article Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44287-024-00070-5

Citation Information: T. Y. Wang, J. Mao, B. Zhang, G. X. Zhang, Z. M. Dang. Polymeric insulating materials characteristics for high-voltage applications. Nat. Rev. Electr. Eng., 2024

https://doi.org/10.1038/s44287-024-00070-5