L.K. Wang, A. Acovic, et al.
MRS Spring Meeting 1993
Amorphous siloxane polymers are the backbone of high-voltage insulation materials. The natural hydrophobicity of their surface is a necessary property for avoiding leakage currents and dielectric breakdown. As these surfaces are exposed to the environment, electrical discharges or strong mechanical impact can temporarily destroy their water-repellent properties. After such events, however, a self-healing process sets in and restores the original hydrophobicity within some hours. In the present study, we investigate possible mechanisms of this restoration process. Using large-scale, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we show that molecules on the material surface have augmented motion that allows them to rearrange with a net polarization. The overall surface region has a net orientation that contributes to hydrophobicity, and charged groups that are placed at the surface migrate inward, away from the vacuum interface and into the bulk-like region. Our simulations provide insight into the mechanisms for hydrophobic self-recovery that repair material strength and functionality and suggest material compositions for future high-voltage insulators. © 2011 American Chemical Society.
L.K. Wang, A. Acovic, et al.
MRS Spring Meeting 1993
Dipanjan Gope, Albert E. Ruehli, et al.
IEEE T-MTT
A.B. McLean, R.H. Williams
Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics
K.A. Chao
Physical Review B