A novel aging characterization method for silicone rubber based on terahertz absorption spectroscopy. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Li; Liu, Yunfan; Cheng, Zhidong; Chen, Rongxin; Zhang, Sida; Liao, Ruijin; Yuan, Yuan
• Is Part Of: Polymer testing. Volume 115(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Terahertz wave -- Non-destructive testing -- Silicone rubber -- Aging; Polymers -- Testing -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Tests -- Périodiques; 620.1920287
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2022.107723
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-9418

Abstract

Abstract: To address the challenge of the lack of aging characterization methods for outdoor silicone rubber-based insulation materials in power engineering applications, this paper proposes a novel high precision non-destructive characterization method for aging of organic materials based on the vibration characteristics of silicone rubber materials in the terahertz frequency band. In order to analyze and verify the method proposed in this paper, the sources of vibration peaks in the THz band absorption spectrum of aged silicone rubber are discussed by accelerating test, microscopic characterization, and molecular simulation. Finally, the characteristic peak frequency and quantitative calculation method of aged silicone rubber are obtained. Compared to other aging assays, this method overcomes the limitations of the existing THz assay which requires testing in a nitrogen atmosphere, and has the advantage of not damaging the sample. Highlights: This paper proposes a novel high precision non-destructive characterization method of silicone rubber materials used in power engineering applications. This method described the changes of Si–O–Si and Si–CH3 functional groups in the aging process. This method overcomes the limitations of the existing THz assay which requires testing in a nitrogen atmosphere, and has the advantage of not damaging the sample.