Advancing thermal stability in natural ester oil-paper insulation systems via precision nanostructuring with parylene films: Experimental and molecular-level comprehensive assessment

The oil-paper insulation system in eco-friendly fire-retardant transformers depends on hydrophilic natural ester insulating oil. Moisture within the system synergistically interacts with aging, worsening oil-paper insulation degradation and hastening overall system aging. Chemical vapor deposition was used to create parylene surface-modified insulating paper as a strategy to inhibit moisture-induced aging in natural ester oil-paper insulation. The effectiveness of the approach was identified by a comprehensive assessment of the physicochemical and electrical properties of the parylene surface-modified insulating paper. The findings from accelerated thermal aging at 130 °C for 90 days on the natural ester oil-paper insulation system reveal the outstanding lipophilic and hydrophobic properties while maintaining electrical characteristics of the parylene surface-modified insulating paper. After 90 days of aging, the parylene surface-modified insulating paper exhibited a 56.76 % higher degree of polymerization and a 19.36 % significantly lower moisture content than conventional cellulose insulating paper. In the natural ester oil-paper insulation system, the parylene surface-modified insulating paper led to a notable 63 % reduction in insulating oil acid value, a 60.50 % decrease in dielectric loss, and a substantial 20.35 % increase in AC breakdown voltage. Molecular-level investigations revealed the inhibitory mechanism of the parylene film, offering a promising solution to enhance the thermal stability and aging resistance of natural ester oil-paper insulation systems. • Chemical vapor deposition was used to create surface-modified insulating paper. • An assessment of the physicochemical and electrical properties of insulating paper. • Significantly lower moisture content than conventional cellulose insulating paper. • Molecular-level investigations revealed the inhibitory mechanism of parylene film. • Enhanced thermal stability and aging resistance of natural ester oil-paper system.