Abstract
In this study, degradation was observed by irradiating UV rays to the polymer insulators which have been widely used in outdoor electric power facilities. For an indoor accelerated UV test, 0.55 w/m2 of UV rays were applied using a xenon-arc method. A UV detection system with 65 ${\phi}mm$ in diameter, 100 mm in length and 1.0 of brightness (F/#) has been designed. Even though efflorescence on the surface of polymer insulators wasn't observed according to the accelerated UV test. UV rays were detected at around 50% and 40% of insulation breakdown in EPDM and silicone-type insulators respectively. As degradation continued because of an indoor accelerated UV test, breakdown voltage with which UV rays can be detected in an early stage decreased as well. A silicone polymer insulator would be severer than EPDM polymer insulator in terms of surface degradation because of UV strength against $V_m/V_{BD}$ was high in silicone polymer insulators. UV strength in silicone-type insulators increased at 1,000 $kJ/m^2$ because contact angle at the intial stage sharply decreased to from $113^{\circ}$ to $92.1^{\circ}$.
