Abstract
ATR / FTIR and DSC techniques have been used to evaluate the thermal stability of some ageing paint materials by heat treatment while immersion in natural ester-based electro-insulating oil. Experimental determinations have highlighted the fact that the investigated paint materials (epoxy resins) have a high oxygen affinity and thus, in closed systems (such as power transformers), they oxidize before coming into contact with the transformer oil. This behavior indicates that the paint layer (suitably chosen) applied on the inside of the transformer vat functions as an antioxidant and results in increasing the thermal stability of the oil.
Keywords: termooxidation; paints; thermal stability; insulating fluids; natural ester