Proceedings of 2008 International Symposium on Electrical Insulating

Materials, September 7-11, 2008, Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan P1-19

Research on Arc Ablation Resistance of PTFE Improved by Introducing Inorganic Filler

Li Yangping1*, Zhao Manjiang2, Zhou Qing1 and Geng Bo3

1
Xiƍan Jiaotong University, State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation for Power Equipment,
No.28, Xianning West Road, Xiƍan-city, 710049, P.R.China
2
Thermal Power Research Institute,
3
Northwest China Grid Company Limited,
No.136, Xinqing Road, Xiƍan-city, 710032, P.R.China
*E-mail : zyli@xjtu.edu.cn

Abstract: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is the
nozzle material of high voltage SF6 circuit breaker, and
the life of circuit breaker is influenced directly by arc
ablation of PTFE nozzle. Arc ablation resistance and
dielectric property of PTFE composite are studied as
adding different filler, including Al2O3, BN, TiO2, and
MoS2. The result indicates that arc ablation resistance
can be greatly improved by introducing inorganic filler.
When filler type is different, the sequence from big to
small of arc ablation quantity of PTFE composite is:
compound MoS2 PTFE, compound TiO2 PTFE,
compound Al2O3 PTFE, compound BN PTFE. Relative
dielectric constant of PTFE composite is increasing
along with increment of filler, and decreasing as
temperature rising. Dielectric loss angle tangent is
increasing as increment of filler addition and
temperature rising. The result of arc ablation resistance
is analyzed using orthogonal design software. The
analysis result reveals that arc ablation quantity is
influenced greatly by addition of filler, next by filler
particle size, and thirdly by the interaction of filler
particle size and PTFE particle size, and the least by
PTFE particle size.
Keywords: PTFE, composite, arc ablation resistance,
dielectric property, inorganic filler
INTRODUCTION
Ablation of nozzle material is the result of radiation
and conduction of arc energy[1]. By introducing filler,
the optical performance and the thermal conductivity
of PTFE can be changed apparently in the heat
radiation band.
Arc ablation resistance and dielectric property of PTFE
composite are studied systematically as adding
different inorganic filler, including Al2O3, TiO2, BN
and MoS2. The result of arc ablation is analyzed using
orthogonal design software, and the electrical property
law of composite PTFE affected by different factors
can be obtained.
EXPERIMENT DESIGN
PTFE selected as main material, Al2O3, TiO2, BN and
MoS2 as inorganic filler, their physical and chemical
properties as shown in Table 1.
Trial design:
(1) When each filler addition is 1%, the influence of
varied filler on electrical property of PTFE is studied.
(2) When Al2O3 addition is 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0%
and 5.0% respectively, the influence of filler addition
on electrical property of PTFE is studied.

At present, electric power has been the prior The sample is prepared according to the above trial
development industry along with the development of design, and sample preparation technological process
national economy. High voltage and large capacity as shown in Fig.1.
power equipment, which is stable and reliable in the
electric power system operation, is very important.
High voltage SF6 circuit breaker is an important power Mixed PTFE Compression Sintering
equipment, and PTFE nozzle is a key part of the puffer
chamber of high voltage SF6 circuit breaker, and
controls arc and increases puffer speed. The property Sample Sizing Cooling
of PTFE nozzle is an important factor to increase
voltage and capacity, be compact in size, and influence Figure1 6ample Preparation Technological Process
the reliability of SF6 circuit breaker. The life of circuit
breaker is influenced directly by arc ablation of PTFE EXPERIMENT RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
nozzle. Improving arc ablation resistance of nozzle
material is the key technology to ensure the reliability Influence on Arc Ablation of PTFE by Filler
of SF6 circuit breaker and the safety of electric power
system.

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 Table1 Physical and Chemical Properties of the Material
Items Al2O3 TiO2 BN MoS2 PTFE
Density(g/cm3) 3.7㨪3.9 3.8㨪3.9 2.25 4.8 2.2
Melting point(ć) 2050 1840 3000(Sublimation) 1185 327
Dielectric constant 8.5㨪11.5 48.0 4.5 - 2.0㨪2.2
Thermal conductivity
1.8×10-1 5.78×10-1 2.3×10-1 2.2㨪3.3×10-2 2.5×10-3
㧔W/cm·k㧕

Table2 Variance Analysis of Arc Ablation Quantity

Variance Source Deviation Freedom Variance F value
Al2O3 Addition 92.22 7 13.17 2.90
Al2O3 Particle Size 4.82 1 4.82 1.06
Interaction of Al2O3 Particle
1.72 1 1.72 0.38
Size and PTFE Particle Size
PTFE Particle Size 0.76 1 0.76 0.17
Error 22.70 5 4.54 -
Total 122.22 15 8.15 -

Influence by Varied Fillers The results reveal that, arc ablation quantity(mg) 6
compared to pure PTFE, arc ablation quantity of PTFE 5
composite is reduced sharply by introducing varied
inorganic fillers, which include Al2O3, TiO2, BN and 4
MoS2. The sequence from big to small of arc ablation 3
quantity of PTFE composite is: compound MoS2 PTFE,
compound TiO2 PTFE, compound Al2O3 PTFE, 2
compound BN PTFE, as shown in Fig.2.
1

The light reflectivity of PTFE composite from 0

ultraviolet to infrared band can be increased A B C D E
significantly by adding reflective Al2O3, TiO2 and BN A-pure PTFE B-compound MOS2 PTFE
respectively[2], and PTFE composite absorbs little C-compound TiO2 PTFE D-compound Al2O3 PTFE
E-compound BN PTFE
radiation energy of arc.
Figure2 Influence on Arc Ablation by Varied Fillers
At the same time, the crystallinity, the melting point and
the heat resistance of PTFE composite are increased by 6
arc ablation quantity(mg)

introducing filler, and the thermal conductivity of PTFE

5
composite is improved, which can avoid the energy
accumulation on the material surface. Thus arc ablation 4
resistance can be greatly improved.
3
On the other hand, MoS2 can absorb radiation energy of
arc, because it is a light absorption material[3]. 2
Compared with the reflective filler, arc ablation
1
resistance of compound MoS2 PTFE is not so good.
0
Influence by Filler Addition Arc ablation test results 0 1 2 3 4 5
showed that arc ablation resistance of PTFE composite filler content(%)
can be greatly improved by adding 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%,
3.0%, and 5.0% of Al2O3 into pure PTFE respectively. Figure3 Influence on Arc Ablation by Filler Addition
Arc ablation quantity of PTFE composite is maintained
at a lower level as the filler addition increases, the Variance Analysis of Arc Ablation Quantity
results as shown in Fig.3.
The arc ablation results of compound Al2O3 PTFE is
analyzed using orthogonal design software, which
considered the interaction of filler particle size and
PTFE particle size. From variance and F value, we can

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see that arc ablation is influenced greatly by filler Influence by Filler Addition From Fig.6, we can see
addition, next by filler particle size, thirdly by the that relative dielectric constant of PTFE composite
interaction of filler particle size and PTFE particle size, increases gradually as the content of Al2O3 increases,
and the least by PTFE particle size, shown in Table 2. and decreases as the temperature rising.

Influence on Dielectric Properties of PTFE by Filler
Influence by Varied Fillers With adding Al2O3, TiO2,
MoS2, and BN Separately into pure PTFE, the sequence
of relative dielectric constant (İr) of PTFE composite
from big to small is: compound MoS2 PTFE, compound
TiO2 PTFE, compound Al2O3 PTFE, compound BN
Dielectric loss angle tangent of PTFE composite
increases as the content of Al2O3 and the temperature
increases, because of polarization loss and electrical
conductance loss in PTFE composite, the results as
shown in Fig.7.
2.45

İr
PTFE, the results as shown in Fig.4. 2.35

2.25
2.25
İr

2.20
2.15
2.15
2.05
2.10
1.95
2.05
1.85
2.00 20 50 80 110 140 170 200
temperature(ć)
1.95 pure PTFE PTFE containing 0.5% Al2O3
PTFE containing 1% Al2O3 PTFE containing 2% Al2O3
1.90
0 50 100 150 200 PTFE containing 3% Al2O3 PTFE containing 5% Al2O3
temperature(ć)
compound Al2O3 PTFE compound TiO2 PTFE Figure6 Influence on İr of PTFE by Filler Addition
compound BN PTFE compound MoS2 PTFE
pure PTFE
30
Figure4 Influence on İr of PTFE by Varied Fillers
tanį(×10-3)

25

6 20
tanį(×10-3)

5 15

10
4

5
3
0
2 20 50 80 110 140 170 200
temperature(ć)
1
pure PTFE containing 0.5% Al2O3
containing 1% Al2O3 containing 2% Al2O3
0 containing 3% Al2O3 containing 5% Al2O3
0 50 100 150 200
temperature(ć) Figure7 Influence on tanį of PTFE by Filler Addition
compound Al2O3 PTFE compound TiO2 PTFE
compound BN PTFE compound MoS2 PTFE Dielectric constant of composite material is concerned
pure PTFE with dielectric constant of each ingredient, relative bulk
concentration and distribution[4].
Figure5 Influence on tanį of PTFE by Varied Fillers
For two materials which dielectric constants are similar,
With adding Al2O3, TiO2, MoS2, and BN respectively
dielectric constant is expressed as:
into pure PTFE, the sequence of dielectric loss angle
tangent (tanį) from big to small is: compound Al2O3 Hk xH 1k  (1  x)H 2k (1)
PTFE, compound MoS2 PTFE, compound TiO2 PTFE, İ1㧙dielectric constant of the first material;
compound BN PTFE, the results as shown in Fig.5. İ2㧙dielectric constant of the second material;
x㧙relative bulk concentration of the first material;

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k㧙the parameter decided by two materials distribution
status.
When two materials are mixed uniformly, dielectric
constant is expressed as:
ln H x ln H 1  (1  x) ln H 2 (2)
(3) Relative dielectric constant of PTFE composite
increases gradually as the content of filler increases,
and decreases as the temperature rising. The sequence
from small to big of dielectric constant of PTFE
composite is: compound BN PTFE, compound Al2O3
PTFE, compound TiO2 PTFE, compound MoS2 PTFE.

(4) Dielectric loss angle tangent of PTFE composite

Dielectric constant of pure PTFE is about 2.0~2.2, and
increases as the content of filler and the temperature
dielectric constant of Al2O3 is about 8.5~11.5.
increases.
According to theoretical calculations and test results,
dielectric constant of compound Al2O3 PTFE material,
REFERENCES
which value is related to relative bulk concentration of
pure PTFE, is between pure PTFE and Al2O3.
[1] Li Yangping, Zhang Jianhong, Liu Zexiang,
"Simulative Study of the Nozzle Ablation
CONCLUSIONS Characteristics in High-Voltage SF6 Circuit Breaker,"
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University, vol. 36,
(1) Arc ablation resistance of PTFE can be greatly
pp.785–788, 2002.
improved by introducing inorganic filler. The sequence
[2] H.Y.Park, D.P.Kang, M.S.Ahn, I.H.Myung, "Light
from big to small of arc ablation quantity of PTFE
Reflectance and Arc Resistance of Nozzle for Circuit
composite is: compound MoS2 PTFE, compound TiO2
Breaker," Proceedings of the 2004 IEEE International
PTFE, compound Al2O3 PTFE, compound BN PTFE.
Conference on Solid Dielectrics, Toulouse, France,
pp.435~438, July 200.
(2) The result of arc ablation is analyzed using
[3] Li Yangping, Zhang Jianhong, "Experimental Study
orthogonal design software. The result reveals that arc
on Nozzle Materials of High-voltage Circuit Breaker,"
ablation quantity is influenced greatly by addition of
High Voltage Apparatus, vol. 38, pp. 19–21, 2002.
filler, next by filler particle size, and thirdly by the
[4] Jin Weifang, Dielectric Physics, Beijing: China
interaction of filler particle size and PTFE particle size,
Machine Press, 1997.
and the least by PTFE particle size.

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