Space charge measurements by the thermal step method in epoxidic polymer materials

To improve the performance of insulators, space charge measurements and localisation are of fundamental importance, For this purpose we have utilised the thermal step method (TSM) which allows measurement of the space charge density within the material. The object of this study is to characterise the electric state of epoxidic polymer material used in electrical insulation, and to study the influence of different factors involving the appearance and the evolution of space charge. The influence of poling temperature as well as the manufacturing process of the material on the remaining space charge distribution is also studied. Measurements show that the space charge behaviour was influenced by two factors: the poling temperature and the manufacturing process, (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.