Strain produced by electrostatic forces in electrical trees and its relationship with the elastic modulus of the polymer matrix

In this work, the electrostatic forces exerted on electrical tree channels are investigated. The trees were grown in soft `gel-like´ silicone polymers. In these materials, the electrical charges deposited on the tree channel walls give rise to a stretching force, which is high enough to produce a mechanical deformation of the tree structure and the surrounding polymer matrix in the direction of the electric field. The strain recovers when the applied voltage is removed. This effect was investigated at various degrees of crosslinking of the polymer matrix.