Investigations on correlation between surface flashover and surface roughness of insulating spacers

This paper presents the results of investigations carried out on surface flashover across polymeric insulating spacers in air. It is well known that in addition to the gas properties and the field, surface flashover also depends on surface structure, surface traps etc. There are very few studies which correlate surface properties to the observed flashover mechanisms. Hence this study aims at understanding the relationship between surface flashover and surface roughness of polymers used as spacers.