Ageing Mechanism od PLA-based 3D-printed Solid Insulators

The breakdown phenomena of an insulator can cause serious damage to the system where the insulator is placed; this can lead to the failure of the system and can potentially be dangerous. In recent years, 3D printing has been introduced into electrical components, and most importantly, 3D-printed solid insulators have become more popular. However, there has not been extensive research on how these insulators perform under various environmental conditions. In this paper, the effects of temperature and humidity on the breakdown point of solid insulators made of Polylactic Acid (PLA) are discussed. To determine the effect environmental conditions have on the performance of PLA solid insulators, breakdown tests under four different environmental conditions were conducted on PLA solid insulators of different thicknesses. Additionally, the effects of partial discharge on the surface of the sample were analyzed by looking at various samples under a Scanning Electron Microscope.