Effect of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma on Performance of Silicone Rubber Insulator Skirts

ZHANG Yuxi; ZAN Hao; LU Na; SUN Changhai

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.08.019

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Surface Technology ›› 2026, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (8) : 229-236. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.08.019

Functional Surfaces and Technology

Effect of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma on Performance of Silicone Rubber Insulator Skirts

ZHANG Yuxi¹, ZAN Hao², LU Na^1,*, SUN Changhai¹

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Abstract

During long-term operation, the surface of the silicone rubber umbrella skirt of composite insulators will gradually accumulate pollutants from the atmospheric environment. Under dry conditions, these polluted layers usually exist in a solid form and have limited impacts on insulation performance. However, as the environmental humidity increases, the soluble components in the pollutants will absorb moisture and dissolve, forming a conductive electrolyte film. The liquid film induces partial discharge by reducing surface resistance, forming current channels, and inducing distorted electric fields; The further development of the discharge arc can ultimately lead to surface flashover, seriously endangering the safety of power grid operation.
The principle of surface treatment of materials by plasma is mainly achieved through physical and chemical interactions between high-energy electrons, ions, active free radicals, and active components such as ultraviolet radiation generated by discharge and the material surface, thereby regulating the surface properties of the material. In this study, parallel plate dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma is used to treat silicone rubber samples at different discharge voltages and frequencies. The surface flashover voltage, surface water contact angle, breakdown voltage, and mechanical properties of the samples before and after treatment are systematically tested to analyze the influence of DBD treatment on surface and bulk properties. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), the surface chemical composition and morphology evolution before and after treatment are characterized to reveal the mechanism of performance changes.
The results show that after DBD plasma treatment, the surface flashover voltage of silicone rubber significantly increases, with a maximum increase of 22.7% at 25 kV and 7 kHz; The surface water contact angle decreases, and after the treated silicone rubber sample is left to stand in the atmospheric environment, its hydrophobicity autonomously recovers. Although the stability value is slightly lower than that of the untreated sample, it is still much higher than the critical value of the material's hydrophilicity. The fluctuation range of breakdown voltage and mechanical properties is less than 5%, indicating that the performance of the body remains stable. FT-IR and AFM results show that the surface of silicone rubber has an increase in oxygen-containing functional groups and roughness.
DBD plasma treatment can effectively enhance the surface flashover voltage of silicone rubber, mainly through the optimization of trap energy levels induced by the increase of surface oxygen-containing groups and the increase of surface roughness. The optimization of trap energy levels is manifested by an increase in shallow trap density, which can accelerate the dissipation rate of surface charges and effectively suppress the sustained accumulation of surface charges; The increase in surface roughness enhances insulation performance through macroscopic and microscopic synergistic mechanisms. At the macro level, the extended creepage distance can suppress flashover; At the microscopic level, electron motion is constrained by grooves, increasing the probability of carrier capture and scattering, reducing the number of effective seed electrons, and suppressing the generation and development of electron avalanche. The temporary decrease in hydrophobicity on the surface of silicone rubber after treatment can be attributed to the dynamic migration behavior of low molecular weight siloxanes inside the silicone rubber. This treatment not only enhances the insulation performance but also does not damage the material's intrinsic properties, indicating good potential for engineering applications.

Key words

dielectric barrier discharge plasma / silicone rubber / hydrophobicity / surface flashover voltage / mechanical properties

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ZHANG Yuxi, ZAN Hao, LU Na, SUN Changhai. Effect of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma on Performance of Silicone Rubber Insulator Skirts[J]. Surface Technology. 2026, 55(8): 229-236

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Funding

Liaoning Province Technology Research and Development Program Project (2024JH2/102600017); Dalian University of Technology Basic Research Business Expense Project (DUTZD25026)