P. Ranachowski

Acoustic investigations of long-rod insulators and their material properties

The paper presents a nondestructive ultrasonic method of investigating long-rod insulators used on overhead power lines and in substations. A correlation between the degree of degradation of porcelain C 120 and the ultrasonic wave propagation and attenuation parameters was established. The ultrasonic method was used to analyze the quality of groups of line and post insulators after many years of service. Also a new mechanoacoustic method of investigating the stages in the degradation of insulator porcelain was applied. As a result of the investigations carried out on samples of porcelain C 130 the successive stages in the degradation of ceramic insulators during their service life were determined.

Mechanoacoustic research method of degradation processes in electroceramics materials

The paper presents the concept of mechanoacoustic testing of degradation processes of ceramic materials, which is applied to diagnose high voltage insulators in operation. The method depends on the application of slowly increasing compressive loading acting on the sample, with simultaneous recording of acoustic emission (AE) descriptors. The process of loading is continued to the destruction or stopped at different stresses, and the samples are subjected to microscopic examination. Microscopic analysis of the samples enables determining the effects of stress action. The results were compared with the images of similar materials obtained from the insulators after different periods of operation. On this basis, there were distinguished consecutive stages of ageing of electrotechnical porcelain materials and corresponding effects of their structure degradation. Using slowly increasing quasi-static compressive loading in a relatively short-term mechanoacoustic test makes it possible to get results similar to those of long lasting degradation effects in operated electroinsulating objects. Using this method there is possible to describe the factors which affect short and long-term mechanical strength of the tested materials. There is also possible assessment of the validity and application of the theories explaining the strength of porcelains. There was presented research of the influence of the mullite phase on the short- and long-term mechanical strength of electrotechnical porcelain of different types.

Saffil alumina fibers reinforced dual-phase Mg-Li and Mg-Li-Zn alloys

The gas pressure infiltration technique was used to prepare Saffil alumina fibers reinforced Mg-Li and Mg-Li-Zn matrix composites with a dual-phase matrix structure. There was investigated the effect of variable Li content (6.2–10.3 wt.% Li) and Zn alloying (∼ 1.5 wt.% Zn) on the proof stress Rp0.2 of prepared composites. Rp0.2 values increased monotonously with rising fraction of Saffil fibers (5, 10 and 15 vol.%) reaching the maximum of about 250 MPa for Mg-Li matrix composites. Rp0.2 values of Mg-Li-Zn matrix composites were lower. Strengthening effect of Saffil fibers was promoted by the displacement redox reaction with Mg-Li and Mg-Li-Zn melts in which only Li significantly participated. Zn alloying retarded the displacement redox reaction. Too extensive reaction, however, resulted in the fiber damage and the drop in composite strength. K e y w o r d s: Mg-Li alloys, Saffil fibers, metal matrix composites, short-fiber strengthening, reactive wetting, displacement reactions

Mechanical-Acoustic and Structural Study of Degradation Processes in Corundum Ceramics and Aluminous Porcelain

This paper comprises the results of acoustic emission (AE), microscopic and ultrasonic measurements of samples subjected to slowly increasing compressive stress. On the basis of conducted measurements the successive stages of the materials structural degradation have been recognized. The object of study were samples made of C 799 corundum ceramics and C 130 aluminous porcelain. Both investigated materials have at present wide application in the fabrication of numerous technical elements e.g. overhead power line insulators. In case of such objects not only high mechanical strength but especially elevated durability as well as operational reliability are required. Expected “life time” of net insulators during exploitation is about 40 years.