Accelerated outdoor degradation characteristics of polymer concrete insulator

The authors have measured the electrical and mechanical properties of virgin and aged polymer concrete samples subjected to an accelerated outdoor exposure test employing a weather-o-meter. The samples have been exposed to both ultra-violet ray and water for 1,500 hours and 2,000 hours, respectively. AC dielectric strength, mechanical strengths and electric properties of the samples were measured and compared with those of virgin ones. Polymer concrete shows acceptable initial performances as an electrical insulation both electrically and mechanically. The variation of dielectric and mechanical breakdown strengths caused by the accelerated exposure of 2,000 hours was negligible. Temperature dependencies of dissipation factor, relative permittivity, volume resistivity and surface resistivity of each sample have been characterized. Polymer concrete is found to be a suitable material for an outdoor insulation