World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

International Journal of Electrical, Computer, Energetic, Electronic and Communication Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011

Artificial Accelerated Ageing Test of Silicone

Rubber Housing Material for Lightning Arrester
W. Payakcho, J. Grasaesom, S. Thong-om and B. Marungsri*


International Science Index, Electrical and Computer Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011 waset.org/Publication/6743

Abstract This paper presents the experimental results of

silicone rubber housing material for 24kV lightning arrester under
artificial accelerated ageing test based on IEC 61109 specifications.
Specimens having inclined and alternated shed made of HTV silicone
rubber with ATH content and having leakage distance 625 mm were
tested continuously 1000 hrs in artificial salt fog chamber. After 1000
hrs of salt fog ageing test, obviously surface erosion was observed on
trunk between the upper large shed and the lower small shed near the
energized end. Decreasing in hydrophobicity and increasing in
hardness were measured on tested specimen comparing with new
specimen. Chemical analysis by ATR-FTIR confirmed the
observation results.

Keywords Accelerated ageing test, Silicone rubber housing

material, salt fog test, Lightning Arrester, Ageing

I. INTRODUCTION

IGHTNING arrester or surge arrester is generally

connected between phases-ground in the substations or
transmission system or distribution system in order to protect
the insulation system from voltage surge such as lightning
surge or switching surge. These voltage surges affect to the
insulation performances in the system [1].
Presently, silicone rubber (SiR) is an insulating material
widely using for lightning arrester housing. SiR offers for good
resistance to extreme temperature, tensile strength, elongation,
tear strength and compression.
Sundararajan et al. [2] tested the accelerated ageing test of
silicone rubber housing material for lightning arrester in multistress test. After tested found that arresters sustained the
stresses without any major breakdown, just as any polymeric
arrester performing well in the field for several years. No
flashover, major surface cracking, or erosion was observed.
Marungsri et al. [3] studied the salt fog ageing test result of
silicone rubber for outdoor polymer insulators. This studied
found that tracking occurred on the surface of RTV (Room
Temperature Vulcanized) SiR rod.
Cho et al. [4] found that the hydrophobicity level of tested
specimens is bad after 1000hrs ageing test because of local
discharges.
Ageing deterioration is major problem of silicone rubber
housing material for lightning arrester due to it is polymeric
W. Payakcho, J. Grasaesom and S. Thong-om are with Suranaree
University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, THAILAND.
*B. Marungsri is with Suranaree University of Technology,
NakhonRatchasima, 30000, THAILAND (corresponding author, phone: +66
44224366; fax: +66 4422 4601; e-mail: bmshvee@ sut.ac.th).

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 5(8) 2011

material. Physical changes (such as erosion tracking), chemical

change (depolymerization) or changes in the physicochemical
(such as hydrophobic) affect to ageing of polymeric housing
materials [5] - [8].
This paper reports the experimental results on salt fog
testing of silicone rubber housing material for lightning
arrester. Details of the experimental and the results are
explained and discussed in the follow sections.

II. TEST ARRANGEMENT

A. Specimen
Insulation housing made of silicone rubber with ATH
(Alumina trihydrate) content for 24kV system lightning
arrester was used in this experimental. Alternated and inclined
shed is configuration of tested specimen. Dimensions of tested
specimen are illustrated in Fig. 1.

40.5 mm

27 mm
210 mm
27 mm
33 mm
23 mm

Leakage
distance 625 mm

Fig. 1 Configuration and dimensions of specimen.

B. Test Method
All specimens were placed in the test chamber having
volume 9.6 m3 ( 2 u 2 u 2.4 m3). Test chamber made from
stainless steel sheet in order to prevent corrosion from salt fog.
Salt fog was generated by using ultrasonic humidifier. Test
arrangements are shown in Fig. 2 and test chamber is shown in
Fig. 3, respectively.

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International Journal of Electrical, Computer, Energetic, Electronic and Communication Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011

TABLE I
TEST CONDITIONS.
Ultrasonic Humidifier

TR, 22 kV,
30 kVA.

Salt fog

Salt fog

Rd

Test Chamber
Test Voltage

9.6 m3
AC 18 kV Continuously Applied

Voltage Stress

34.6 mm/kV.

Salt fog Generation

Salt fog Injection Rate

Ultrasonic Humidifier
0.5 l/hr/m3

Salt fog Salinity

10 kg/m3 (16000 S/cm)

Salt fog injectedfor 8 hoursand stopped
for 16 hours.

Test sequence in 24 hours.

Specimen

TABLE II
TEST CYCLE.

Coaxial Cable

Rsh

A/D

Aging period
(hr)

PC

0-8

8-24

International Science Index, Electrical and Computer Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011 waset.org/Publication/6743

Voltage
Salt fog

Fig.2 Test arrangement.

III. TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Silicone rubber housing material for lightning arrester was
tested base on IEC 61109 in order to elucidate degree of
surface ageing. The analyzing by physical method and
chemical method such as visual observation, surface
contamination degree, loss of hydrophobicity, hardness
measurement and ATRFTIR analysis were conducted on
tested specimen after 1000 hrs salt fog test.
A. Visual Observation
During artificial salt fog ageing test, discharge activities as
shown in Fig. 4 were observed. As shown in Fig. 4, yellow
light for dry band arcing was observed. Such discharge
indicated that large dry band arc discharge occurred on the
specimen surface near the energized end. Low power
discharge or corona discharge was also observed.

(a) Test chamber

Coaxial Cable

Energized End

Dry Band Arc

No. 1

No. 2

No. 3

(b) Specimen installation

Corona Discharge

Fig. 3 Illustration of test chamber.

C. Test Conditions
Test was conducted continuously for 1000 hrs based on IEC
61109 [9]. The cyclic salt fog ageing test was conducted by
injecting salt fog for 8 hours and stopping it for 16 hours every
day under AC 18 kV, tested together under the conditions
show in Table I and test cycle shown in Table II, respectively.

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 5(8) 2011

Ground End

Fig. 4 Discharge Activities

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World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

International Journal of Electrical, Computer, Energetic, Electronic and Communication Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011

Erosion

Erosion

(a)

(b)

International Science Index, Electrical and Computer Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011 waset.org/Publication/6743

Dirt

Dirt

(c)

(d)

Fig. 5Visual observation on the surface for lightning arrester.

Energized End

After 1000 hrs salt fog ageing test, obviously surface

erosion was observed on the trunk surface between small and
large shed near the energized end of all specimen, as shown in
Figure 5 (a) and (b). Slightly surface erosion was also
observed on the other trunk portion along the specimen
surface. Also, slightly erosion was observed on all shed
surface. As shown in Fig. 5 (a), erosion zone on trunk surface
occurred close to shed surface and erosion zone on shed
surface occurred close to trunk surface. The explanation for
such occurring is shown in Fig. 6. In border of wetting zone,
dry band arcing easily occurred due to easier formation of dry
band than drying and wetting zone. This explanation is
supported by no erosion surface on drying and wetting zone.
As shown in Figure 5 (c) and (d), no erosion was observed
on the upper shed surface. However, dirt was only observed on
such portion.
B. Contamination Degree
Surface contamination degree was determined by measuring
salt deposit density (SDD). The measurement procedures were
based on IEC 60507 [10]. On the tested specimens, more
contaminations were observed on the trunk surface than on the
shed surface. Contamination degree measurement result on
specimen surface after 1000 hrs ageing test is shown in Table
III. The formulas for SDD calculation are as follows.
SDD

Sa

(1)

Sa

4

1.03

(5.7 u 10 V 20 )

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 5(8) 2011

(2)

Dry Band Arcing

Border of wetting Zone

2

Elongation Direction
of Dry Band

Electric Field
Direction
1

Drying Zone

Wetting Zone

Ground End

Fig. 6 Explanation of surface erosion

V 20

V T [1  b(T  20)]

(3)

where
T is solution temperature (0C),

V T is the volume conductivity at temperature of T 0C (S/m),

V 20 is the volume conductivity at temperature of 20 0C (S/m),
b is the factor depending on temperature of T 0C,

Sa is Salinity (mg/cm3),
SDD is salt deposit density (mg/cm2),
V
is volume of distilled water (cm3),
A
is area of the specimen surface for collecting
contaminations (cm2).
Significant different in contamination degree was not
measured.

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World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

International Journal of Electrical, Computer, Energetic, Electronic and Communication Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011

TABLE III
CONTAMINATION DEGREE
2

Sa (mg/cm )

SDD (mg/cm )

1
2

2.061
2.0688

0.2626
0.2636

1.6622

0.2118

Specimen No.

International Science Index, Electrical and Computer Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011 waset.org/Publication/6743

C. Hydrophobicity
Loss of hydrophobicity on specimen surface after 1000 hrs
ageing test was evaluated by STRI guide [11], as show in Fig.
7. Decreasing in hydrophobicity on surface of tested specimen
near energized end was obtained from the measuring results.
The measurement results are shown in Table IV.

Fig. 7Characteristics of the sample surfaceHC1-HC6[11].

TABLE IV
HYDROPHOBICITY BY STRI CRITERIA

Position

Specimen

HC 3 HC 3 HC 4

HC 3 HC 4 HC 4

HC 2 HC 2 HC 2

HC 2 HC 3 HC 3

HC 2 HC 2 HC 3

HC 1 HC 1 HC 2

HC 2 HC 3 HC 2

HC 3 HC 4 HC 4

HC 3 HC 2 HC 3

10

HC 3 HC 3 HC 3

11

HC 3 HC 3 HC 3

12

HC 1 HC 2 HC 1

13

HC 2 HC 3 HC 2

14

HC 3 HC 3 HC 3

15

HC 1 HC 1 HC 2

16

HC 2 HC 3 HC 2

17

HC 2 HC 2 HC 2

18

HC 1 HC 1 HC 1

19

HC 2 HC 3 HC 3

20

Position

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3

HC 3 HC 3 HC 3

21

HC 1 HC 1 HC 2

22

HC 2 HC 2 HC 3

23

HC 2 HC 2 HC 3

24

HC 1 HC 1 HC 2

25

HC 3 HC 3 HC 3

Energized End

1
2
4

3
5

D. Chemical analysis by ATR FTIR

In order to confirmed surface ageing, chemical analysis by
ATRFTIR (attenuated total reflection fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy) was conduced to evaluate the chemical
changed on tested specimen surface. Decreasing in Si CH3
bonds (wave number 1260 cm-1) indicate that side chains are
cleaved. Decreasing of Si O bonds (wave number 1011 cm-1)
indicate that back bones are broken or depolymerization.
For comparison ATRFTIR analysis result of new specimen
is defined as 100% and is used to comparing with tested
specimen. ATR FTIR analysis results of position 2 are shown
in Fig. 8. ATR FTIR analysis results for all portion of tested
specimen are shown in Table V. Decreasing of side chain and
back bonds confirmed surface ageing.

6
8

10
11
13

12
14

16

15
17

Si-CH3
19

18

C-H in CH3
20

22

ATH
Si-O

21
23

25

24

Wave number
Ground End

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 5(8) 2011

Fig. 8 ATR FTIR analysis result (Position 2).

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World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

International Journal of Electrical, Computer, Energetic, Electronic and Communication Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011

TABLE VI
HARDNESS MEASUREMENT RESULTS

Specimen
new

Position

%Transmittance (Si-O)
new

Specimen No.
1

58.32

58.8

59.84

61.975 55.791 74.207

60.783 79.922

88.545

56.32 58.08

57.2

47.887 63.694 94.543

75.561 83.713

94.922

56.64

57.6

56.56

81.313 64.092 66.27

87.017 89.742

83.644

58.32 59.28

59.2

55.012 56.881 14.185

78.971 61.644

29.272

57.52 58.32

58.48

34.241 12.175 71.043

81.503 27.675

81.317

60.4

59.2

58.4

81.453 60.978 69.988

54.917 89.641

82.551

56.698 60.072 30.238

45.772 78.046

58.207

56.64 57.76

59.04

17.983 25.954 86.879

13.198 55.031

82.6

78.253 78.611 88.923

92.967 78.093

10

67.474 76.325 16.091

11
12

58.96 56.56

57.28

86.818

56.64 57.28

55.52

25.401 82.081

25.09

10

56.8

60.56

15.837 13.811 27.71

3.387 23.721

56.696

11

59.28 57.76

55.588 23.784 40.774

91.821 53.602

73.817

12

59.2

58.96

59.12

13

57.76

53.2

60.24

14

57.28

58.4

58.8

15

59.2

59.2

58.48

16

61.28 59.68

59.84

70.089 69.789

42.156

14

21.954 81.995 82.753

37.648 34.997 14.866

35.472 39.856

82.002

15

70.379 71.029 84.49

85.447 77.527

83.611

16

74.422

74.873 79.049

21.999

27.75 9.6887

55.92

2
4

23.819

8.316 34.793

68.521 20.799

68.571

18

76.811 29.864 28.391

25.164 64.829

60.843

17

56.96 58.08

58.32

19

87.093 24.369 5.336

92.762 57.523

23.229

18

56.16 56.56

59.44

20

6.151

82.55 55.014

95.004 21.961

80.319

19

57.6

53.44

57.92

21

70.855 98.516 63.138

106.11 75.936

82.297

20

57.28 57.44

58.16

22

84.559 54.193 9.8343

45.045 77.806

28.051

21

57.6

58.16

58.08

23

12.316

8.441 51.376

66.021 96.443

79.282

22

57.52 58.48

59.12

24

80.502 44.097 43.557

85.114 74.956

75.98

23

55.52 59.04

57.12

25

35.936 37.386 37.719

72.118 71.834

69.412

24

57.92 58.88

60.24

25

60.64 60.16

60.56

6
8

58

17

E. Hardness
After 1000 hrs salt fog test, hardness was measured on
tested specimen surface comparing with new specimen surface.
Measurement methods were based on the ISO 868 Shore
Hardness [12]. The measurement results are shown in Table
VI. Increasing in surface hardness was measured on tested
specimen comparing with new specimen. The measurement
results showed the oxidation crosslink of silicone rubber or
polydimethylsiloxane. However, no significant different in
hardness was observed.

100

13

Position

New

10
11

54.32

%Transmittance (Si-CH3)

100

International Science Index, Electrical and Computer Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011 waset.org/Publication/6743

Position

TABLE V
SURFACE ANALYSIS RESULTS BY ATR FTIR

13

12
14

16

15
17

19

18
20

22

21
23

25

24

(2) According to STRI Guide, no significant decreasing in

hydrophobicity was measured.
(3) Chemical analysis by ATR FTIR also confirmed surface
deterioration of silicone rubber housing material for lightning
arrester in the salt fog ageing test.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Authors would like to thank you Suranaree University
of Technology and Precise Electric Manufacturing CO., LTD.
for kind financial support.

IV. CONCLUSION
In this study, salt fog ageing based on IEC 61109 is carried
out in order to investigate ageing of silicone rubber housing
material for distribution type lightning arrester. The following
conclusions were given.
(1) Surface erosion was observed on the trunk surface between
the upper large shed and the lower small shed more than on the
trunk surface between the upper small shed and the lower large
shed.

International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 5(8) 2011

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[1]

[2]

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IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 7, N 1, January 1992, pp.
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5 6XQGDUDUDMDQ ( 6RXQGDUDMDQ 0XOWLVWUHVV $FFHOHUDWHG $JLQJ RI
Polymer Housed Surge Arresters Under Simulated Coastal Florida
&RQGLWLRQV LQ 3URF ,((( 7UDQVDFWLRQV RQ 'LHOHFtrics and Electrical
Insulation Vol. 13, 2006, pp. 211-226.

scholar.waset.org/1999.5/6743

World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

International Journal of Electrical, Computer, Energetic, Electronic and Communication Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011

International Science Index, Electrical and Computer Engineering Vol:5, No:8, 2011 waset.org/Publication/6743

[3]

B. Marungsri, H. Komiya, I. Aoyama, A. Ishikawa and R. Matsuoka,

6DOWIRJ$JHLQJ7HVW5HVXOWVRI6LOLFRQH5XEEHUIRU2XWGRRU3RO\PHU
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Applications of Dielectric Materials, 7th, June 1-5, 2003, pp. 393-396.
[4] Han-Goo Cho, Se-Won Han and Un-<RQJ /HH 0XOWL-Aging Test
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[5] < 2QR 6LOLFRQH - )LHOGV RI $SSOLFDWLRQ DQG 7HFKQRORJLFDO 7UHQGV
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co.Ltd., Japan, 2003.
[6] 6+.LP($&KHUQH\5+DFNDPDQG.*5DWKHUIRUG&KHPLFDO
Changes at the Surface of RTV Silicone Rubber Coatings on Insulators
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[7] 6DOPDQ$PLQ0XKDPPDG$PLQDQG5DML6XQGUDUDMDQ&RPSDUDWLYH
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[12] ISO 83ODVWLFVDQGHERQLWH Determination of indentation hardness
E\PHDQVRIDGXURPHWHU6KRUHKDUGQHVV

professor in School of Electrical Engineering, Suranaree University of

Technology, Thailand. His areas of interest are high voltage insulation
technologies and electrical power system.

Worawit Payakcho was born in Phra Nakhon Si

Ayutthaya, Thailand, in 1986. He received his
B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from Suranaree
University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima,
Thailand, in 2007. He is currently a graduated
student in school of Electrical Engineering,
institute of Engineering at same the University.
His interesting areas High voltage Technology
applications, High Voltage Insulation Technology and Power System
Technology.
Janejira Grasaesom was born in Nakhon
Ratchasima Province, Thailand, in 1986. She
received B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from
Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon
Ratchasima, Thailand, in 2007. She is currently a
master degree student in School of Electrical
Engineering, Institute of Engineering at same the
University. Her research topics interesting are high
voltage technology application, high voltage
insulation technology and power system technology.
Suchart Thong-om was born in Surin province,
northeastern of THAILAND, in 1987. He received B.
Eng. in Electrical Engineering from Suranaree
University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchsima, in
2009. Currently, He is a master degree student in
school of Electrical Engineering, Suranaree University
of Technology. His research topic interesting is High
voltage insulation technology.

Boonruang Marungsri was born in Nakhon

Ratchasima Province, Thailand, in 1973. He
received his B. Eng. and M. Eng. from
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand in 1996 and
1999 and D. Eng. from Chubu University, Kasugai,
Aichi, Japan in 2006, all in electrical engineering,
respectively. Dr. Marungsri is currently an assistant

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