2010 International Conference on Solid Dielectrics, Potsdam, Germany, July 4-9, 2010

The Influence of Water Content and Ageing Degree

of Paper Insulation on its Mechanical Strength
Piotr Przybylek

Hanna Moscicka-Grzesiak

Institute of Electric Power Engineering

Poznan University of Technology
Poznan, Poland
e-mail: piotr.przybylek@put.poznan.pl

Institute of Electric Power Engineering

Poznan University of Technology
Poznan, Poland
e-mail: hanna.moscicka-grzesiak@put.poznan.pl
The ageing of the cellulose insulation and the associated
decrease of mechanical strength are one of the important
factors that limit the technical life of transformer. The main
reason for failure is winding movement caused by mechanical
stresses during short circuit [5]. The paper insulation of copper
wire is exposed to the risk of various mechanical stress, for
example tensile and tearing stress. The mechanical strength of
cellulose insulation depends mainly on DP of paper. The
mechanical strength of paper insulation, such as tensile
strength, tear strength, extension to break, burst strength, and
double-fold strength, is decreased with DP decrease, which
was proved in papers [2,6,7,8]. However, there is no
information in literature on the influence of water content in
paper insulation on its mechanical strength.

AbstractThe article concerns the issue of mechanical strength

of paper insulation in dependence of its ageing degree and water
content. The authors focused on tearing resistance of Kraft
paper. The tearing resistance of paper was determined using
Elmendorf method. The ageing level of the paper samples was
described by means of cellulose polymerization degree. The water
content in paper samples was determined using Karl Fischer
titration method. The investigations were conducted for various
combinations of water content in the range from 7.24% to 0.12%
and polymerization degree in the range from 1360 to 272. The
results proved significant influence of water content in paper
insulation on its mechanical strength. The drying of cellulose
insulation causes significant weakness of mechanical strength of
paper. This conclusion is particularly important in aspect of
drying of aged transformer.

The water in transformer appears as a consequence of

oxidation process of the oil-paper system and atmospheric air
penetration into the tank. The increase of water content in
cellulose insulation improves its mechanical properties, for
example tearing resistance, what authors proved in this paper.
But unfortunately, water accelerates depolymerization process
of cellulose insulation, what reduces its mechanical properties.

Keywords: paper insulation; mechanical strength; tearing

resistance; water content; degree of polymerization

I.

INTRODUCTION

Cellulose is a polymer. General formula of cellulose is

(C6H10O5)n, where n is the degree of polymerization (DP).
Fig. 1 presents the structural formula of cellulose fiber (grain).

The main goal of the research was to estimate the influence

of water content in new and aged paper on tearing resistance.
The research results are particularly important in aspect of
drying of aged transformers.

The DP of new Kraft paper can be in the range 1100-1600.

The degree of polymerization can be reduced after the drying
process by about 10% of initial value [1]. The cellulose
depolymerization, which means cellulose molecule shortening,
can be caused mainly by hydrolytic degradation. The
hydrolytic degradation leads to the breakup of an oxygen
bridge between C1 and C4 (Fig. 1) and reduction of DP. The
cellulose depolymerization can be caused by oxidative and
thermal degradation [2,3,4]. Usually, DP equal 200 means the
end of life of the cellulose insulation [1,5]. The paper of low
DP is very brittle and mechanically weak.

The tearing resistance of paper in grain direction (paper

machine direction) and in cross grain direction (cross machine
direction) was investigated.
II. THE RESEARCH OBJECTS AND METHODS
The research object was plain Kraft paper. This kind of
paper is used as the insulation of copper wire in power
transformers. The thickness of the paper was 0.052 mm and the
basis weight was 47,6 g/m2.
The new and aged paper samples of different degrees of
moisture were studied. Three levels of paper degradation were
obtained by ageing of new paper in the air (160 0C) for the time
equal to 3, 6, 20 h. The ageing level of the paper samples was
described by the cellulose degree of polymerization (DP). The
polymerization degree of new and aged paper was determined
using viscometric method, according to the standard IEC
60450 [9]. The degree of polymerization of new paper was

Figure 1. Structural formula of cellulose fibre

This work was supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher
Education under contract number N N 510 357336.

978-1-4244-7944-3/10/$26.00 2010 IEEE

1

equal to 1360 and the DP of aged samples were equal 670, 464,
272.

Each value of tearing resistance in table 1 was calculated on

the basis of results obtained from four measurement repetitions
[12].

In this paper the moisture concentration in cellulose

insulation is expressed in percent (%), which is the weight of
water (from moistened paper) divided be the weight of dry
paper. The water content in new cellulose insulation, in contact
with the air of relative humidity equal to 55% and for
temperature equal to 20 0C is about 7% (calculated on the basis
of Jeffries data). In the case of aged cellulose, the sorption of
water is lower and in the same conditions of the air, the water
content in cellulose is smaller [10]. In our experiment, for DP
equal to 1360; 670; 464; 272 the water content, in moisture
equilibrium state, is respectively equal to 7.24%; 5.84%;
5.45%; 4.56%.

Fig. 2 presents the tearing resistance of paper in

dependence of water content for different DP in cross grain
direction, whereas Fig. 3 presents the same relation in grain
direction.
The tearing resistance in cross grain direction and grain
direction is strongly dependent on water content in paper and
degree of polymerization (DP), what can be proved on the
basis of Fig. 2 and Fig.3. The tearing resistance increases with
water content in paper. The decreasing of DP causes, in
accordance with prediction, significant decreasing of tearing
resistance.

In order to prepare the paper samples of different water

contents, the vacuum drier was used. Different water contents in
the samples were obtained by heating the samples at different
temperature and low pressure. The samples of five levels of water
content for each polymerization degree were prepared. After
drying, paper samples were impregnated with oil. The water
content in the paper samples was determined using the Karl
Fischer titration method (KFT).

Decreasing of tearing resistance as a consequence of

drying process is very important conclusion, especially in the
case of old transformers.
Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show a comparison of the tearing
resistance in cross grain direction and grain direction
depending on water content in paper respectively in case of
new (DP=1360) and aged (DP=272) paper.

The tearing resistance in grain direction (FGD) and cross

grain direction (FCD) of paper was investigated. The tearing
resistance of paper was determined using Elmendorf method,
according to the standard EN 21974:1994 [11]. The paper
sheets of dimensions 75x60 mm were prepared. One sample
consists of 20 oil-impregnated paper sheets. 3200 sheets were
used during tearing resistance investigations.
III.

RESULTS

Research results of tearing resistance of paper in cross grain

direction (FCD) and grain direction (FGD), for four degrees of
polymerization and five levels of water content, are presented
in table 1.
TABLE I.

MEASUREMENT DATA OF TEARING RESISTANCE

IN CROSS GRAIN DIRECTION (FCD) AND TEARING RESISTANCE IN GRAIN

DIRECTION (FGD) IN DEPENDENCE OF WATER CONTENT IN PAPER (WCP)

AND DEGREE OF POLIMERISATION (DP)

DP=1360

DP=670

DP=464

DP=272

WCP, %

0.35

2.10

3.23

4.67

7.24

FCD, mN

358.9

429.5

457.0

506.0

570.7

FGD, mN

245.2

290.3

333.4

382.5

435.4

WCP, %

0.12

1.65

2.61

4.27

5.84

FCD, mN

278.5

287.9

325.6

372.7

386.4

FGD, mN

151.0

172.6

180.4

227.5

241.2

WCP, %

0.18

1.33

2.19

3.20

5.45

FCD, mN

164.8

211.8

237.3

238.0

237.3

FGD, mN

123.6

131.4

156.9

182.4

184.4

WCP, %

0.16

0.99

1.82

2.91

4.56

FCD, mN

113.8

107.9

137.3

141.2

158.9

FGD, mN

56.9

57.5

64.7

86.3

88.3

Figure 2. Tearing resistance of paper in cross grain direction

in dependence of water content for various values of DP

Figure 3. Tearing resistance of paper in grain direction

in dependence of water content for various values of DP

material achieves the value above 3.5%, then transformer

should by dried. The drying process improves dielectric
properties of insulation, decreases the risk of bubble effect
appearance, decreases the rate of depolymerization process but
unfortunately decreases mechanical strength of insulation.
If we take the decision about drying transformer insulation,
we should take under consideration that the tearing resistance
can be decreased significantly.
In the further work the investigations of the influence of
water content and ageing degree of paper insulation on its
tensile strength will be made.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was supported by the Polish Ministry of Science
and Higher Education under contract number N N 510 357336.

Figure 4. Tearing resistance of new paper (DP=1360)

in cross grain direction and grain direction in dependence of water content

REFERENCES
[1]

T.V. Oommen, T.A. Prevost, Cellulose insulation in oil-filled power

transformers: Part II Maintaining insulation integrity and life, IEEE
Electr. Insul. Mag., Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 5 14, 2006.
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transformers, IEE Proc., Vol.132, Pt. C, No.6, pp. 312 319, 1985.
[3] A.J. Kachler and I. Hhlein, Aging of cellulose at transformer service
temperatures. Part 1: Influence of type of oil and air on the degree of
polymerization of pressboard, dissolved gasses, and furanic compounds
in oil, IEEE Electr. Insul. Mag., Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 15 21, 2005.
[4] A.J. Kachler and I. Hhlein, Aging of cellulose at transformer service
temperatures. Part 2: Influence of moisture and temperature on degree of
polymerization and formation of furanic compounds in free-breathing
systems, IEEE Electr. Insul. Mag., Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 21 24, 2005.
[5] Cigr Brochure 323, Aging of cellulose in mineral-oil insulated
transformers, 2007.
[6] Lawson W.G., Simmons M.A., Gale P.S., Thermal ageing of cellulose
paper insulation, IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation, Vol.
EI-12, No. 1, February, 1977.
[7] Emsley A.M., Heywood R.J., Ali M., Xiao X., Degradation of
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IEE Proceedings, Vol. 147, No. 6, pp. 285 290, 2000.
[8] Hill D.J.T, Le T.T., Darveniza M., Saha T., A study of degradation of
cellulosic insulation materials in a power transformer, part 1. Molecular
weight study of cellulose insulation paper, Elsevier Polymer
Degradation and Stability, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 79-87, 1995.
[9] IEC 60450, Measurement of the average viscometric degree of
polymerization of new and aged cellulosic electrically insulating
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[10] Przybylek P., The influence of cellulose insulation aging degree on its
water sorption properties and bubble evolution, IEEE Transactions on
Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, in press.
[11] EN 21974:1994, Paper. Determination of tearing resistance (Elmendorf
method)
[12] Gryniewicz B., The influence of ageing degree and water content on
mechanical strength of transformer paper insulation, masters thesis in
Piotr Przybylek care, Poznan University of Technology, 2010 (in
Polish).

Figure 5. Tearing resistance of aged paper (DP=272)

in cross grain direction and grain direction in dependence of water content

We can conclude that the tearing resistance, for the same

water content, in cross grain direction is higher than the tearing
resistance in grain direction. The highest percentage difference
between tearing resistance in cross grain direction and grain
direction is equal to 50% (in the case of DP=272 and
WCP=0.16%, Fig. 5).
CONCLUSIONS
The tearing resistance in cross grain direction and grain
direction is strongly dependent on DP and on water content in
paper. The tearing resistance increases with water content in
paper.
The tearing resistance, for the same water content, in cross
grain direction is higher than in grain direction. The tearing
resistance in cross grain direction is more important taking
into account mechanical stresses during short circuit.
There is the risk of the exploitation of transformers in case
of high moistened insulation. When water content in cellulose