Surface structural characterization of polymer composite insulators for improved weather resistance

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Polymer-based materials are promising for use in insulators for electrical power lines as an alternative to**current glass or ceramic designs. The plastic structures can offer increased electrical resistance, lower**manufacturing and installation cost, and be of lighter weight. However, there is still work to be done in terms**of formulating the material so that it can withstand the extreme summer and winter conditions of Canadian**climates. A large challenge in this area is chemical resistance to de-icing agents. To date, testing of some**materials such as silicone and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubbers has been carried out, and**some general findings exist, but it is remains to be understood how the materials respond to weathering under**their electrical load. In this proposal, a combination of surface-specific spectroscopy, microscopy, and**macroscopic measurements of the hydrophobicity will be carried out. The aim is to identify which materials**perform the best under specific sets of chemical and physical conditions, and to be able to provide some**molecular-level explanation for any observed degradation in material performance. At the same time, this**project provides many opportunities for training the next generation of scientists in advanced chemical**structure and materials characterization methods.