Comparisons of partial discharge resistance and dielectric properties after water absorption between polyetherimide and aramid insulating papers

Partial discharge resistance was compared between newly developed polyetherimide insulating paper and conventional aramid insulating paper. Effects of water absorption on dielectric properties were also compared. The time to breakdown via partial discharges observed for the polyetherimide paper by applying a constant voltage was found to be about twice as long as that observed for the aramid paper, while the partial discharge charge amount per unit time is similar in the two papers. Moreover, the average area of degraded portions induced by partial discharges is smaller in the polyetherimide paper than in the aramid paper. The polyetherimide paper absorbs less water than does the aramid paper, when they are immersed in water at 27 and 80?C for the same period. Because of this, complex permittivity and conductivity increase more significantly in the aramid paper than in the polyetherimide paper. Therefore, especially in a humid condition, the polyetherimide paper is superior to the aramid paper.