Effect of surfactant on water tree generation in XLPE

In order to investigate the effect of surfactant on water tree generation, experiments were conducted using XLPE specimens containing various types of nonionic surfactants. The experiments were conducted while applying a voltage stress of 3 kV/mm at ambient temperature in copper sulfide and sodium chloride solutions. The experimental results demonstrate that XLPE specimens containing lipophilic surfactants show a significant decrease in bowtie trees and that some kinds of glyceryl ester show a suppressive effect on vented tree. Based on the results of these experiments, the effects of surfactants on the bowtie tree and vented tree were examined. The surfactant in XLPE insulation may form micelles and solubilize excess moisture in XLPE, eventually resulting in the suppression of bowtie and vented tree generation.