Time evolution of current through insulating paper under DC voltage stress

The use of paper in electrical insulation, especially in power transformers, remains a topical subject. The interest for the insulating paper, despite the emergence of many synthetic materials is ascribed to its low cost price and its ability to an oil impregnation. However its strong hydrophilic character remains the main difficulty for its implementation in electrical insulation. This affinity to water absorption and/or adsorption shows that a good understanding of the moisture effect becomes imperative. Several studies were carried out on the subject but a systematic study of the moisture effect on overall behavior of paper has not been achieved. This work is meant to be a contribution for this systematic investigation. The first step of this study, which is the object of the present article, concerns an examination of time variation of the electrical currents, under DC stress, for different moisture levels. A particular attention is given to the polarization and depolarization currents. These currents are examined during alternate charges and discharges sequences. An increase of the current, during the application of continuous voltage was noticed. This unexpected phenomenon would be related to an electro-dissociation and/or polarization processes.