ABSTRACT
Electrical insulating materials are used in various forms to provide insulation for high voltage power networks. These materials should possess good insulating properties over a wide range of operating parameters since the reliability of the system depends on their insulation quality. High voltage tests are applied to determine the ability of the insulation to meet its design requirements. High voltage tests can be destructive or nondestructive. The destructive tests are used to measure the dielectric strength of insulation and are made on sample pieces of the material or apparatus. Nondestructive tests are carried out to ensure that the quality of insulation is adequate for the required service conditions. In this case, the insulation is not exposed to excessive test voltages. The customer views the testing as an examination of the ability of the system or apparatus to meet the guaranteed specifications of dielectric properties. Through the insulation testing, a manufacturer wants to check the design and to ensure the suitability of the selected materials. A researcher may use these tests and others to develop better insulating materials and superior equipment design.
