Effect of fluorination on the surface electrical properties of epoxy resin insulation

Epoxy samples were surface fluorinated in a laboratory vessel using a F-2/N-2 gas mixture to suppress surface charge accumulation. Attenuated total reflection infrared analyses indicate that the fluorination led to substantial variations in chemical composition and structure of the sample surface layer. Measurement results of surface properties indicate that surface conductivity and wettability or polarity were dramatically increased by the fluorination. A very likely decrease in charge trap depth and the adsorbed water on the surface in air are responsible for the high surface conductivity. As a result, charge cannot accumulate on the fluorinated surface even at room temperature, rapidly transporting along the surface. Surface charging current measurements further show a much larger steady state current flowing along the fluorinated surface, suggesting much lower dynamic surface potential or charge density during charging, compared with those for the original surface.