HIGH DIELECTRIC STRENGTH MATERIALS FOR SHORT-PULSED ELECTRICAL STRESS

SIX POLYMERIC MATERIAL SYSTEMS ALL HAVING EXCELLENT DIELECTRIC STRENGTH ARE TO BE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THEIR FAST RISETIME PULSE DIELECTRIC STRENGTH. THE MATERIALS TO BE TESTED INCLUDE EPOXIES, POLYURETHANES AND SILICONE ELASTOMERS. A SURVEY WAS MDE TO LOCATE A TEST FACILITY THAT COULD DUPLICATE THE SOLICITATION PULSE SIGNATURE. NONE WAS FOUND, HOWEVER, THE WESTINGHOUSE CORP. HAS SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO REDSTONE ARSENAL TO CONSTRUCT SUCH A FACILITY AND SUGGESTED THAT THIS FACILITY BE USED FOR THESE TESTS. IT IS PROPOSED THAT PHASE I TESTING BE PERFORMED ON AN AVAILABLE 400KV TESTER. IT IS BELIEVED THAT A GOVERNMENT INSTALLATION COULD BE FOUND FOR THIS PURPOSE. FOUR RISETIME (.01, 1, 10 & 100US) ARE SUGGETED FOR STUDY. THE EFFECT OF THICKNESS WILL BE DETERMINED AND A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BREAKDOWN PATH WILL BE UNDERTAKEN USING SEM AND OPTICAL MICROSCOPY.