IRC-analysis: destruction free dielectric diagnosis of mechanical and service aged polymeric insulation

Studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between the mechanical and electrical ageing and the microdielectric behaviour of insulation. The isothermal relaxation current from a polymeric volume correlates with the intensity and the duration of the stress. Therefore the method of the Isothermal Relaxation Current-Analysis (IRC-Analysis) offers a de struction free possibility to investigate the degradation processes of polymeric composites, which are the base materials in modern insulation. In this paper results of the mechanical and microdielectric analysis of polymeric specimen are discussed.