Loss and recovery of hydrophobicity on RTV coating surfaces

Author

Wankowicz, J.G. ; Gubanski, S.M. ; Lampe, W.D.

Volume

1

Issue

4

fYear

1994

fDate

8/1/1994 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

604

Lastpage

614

Abstract

Studies are reported on decay and recovery of hydrophobic properties on clean and contaminated surfaces of silicone rubber based RTV coating. Treatment that led to hydrophobicity losses were water immersion and water condensation with and without a presence of dc electric field. Contact angles (receding angles) and surface leakage currents were measured on the treated surfaces. A suppression of the leakage current was observed and its link to the diffusion of the low molecular weight fraction from the polymer bulk and dry band arcing is discussed. Attempts aiming to restore the lost hydrophobic properties are also described. As a means of recovery, resting at ambient atmosphere, under UV irradiation, and in vacuum at elevated temperature, was applied. The efficiencies were verified through measurements of receding angles, surface leakage currents, and thermally stimulated depolarization currents

Keywords

arcs (electric); dielectric depolarisation; electric breakdown of solids; insulating coatings; rubber; silicones; thermally stimulated currents; RTV coating surfaces; UV irradiation; dc electric field; dry band arcing; hydrophobicity; polymer bulk; receding angle; receding angles; silicone rubber based RTV coating; surface leakage currents; thermally stimulated depolarization currents; water condensation; water immersion; Coatings; Current measurement; Leakage current; Pollution measurement; Polymers; Rubber; Surface cleaning; Surface contamination; Surface treatment; Water pollution;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1070-9878

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/94.311703

Filename

311703