Statistical Analysis of Functional Group Distribution on Operated Composite Insulators

This study focuses on the relationship between the aging degree of composite insulators and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), systematically exploring the variation patterns of major functional group content during the aging process of composite insulators. By analyzing 740 samples of actual operating insulators with varying degrees of aging from across the country, it was found that the absorption peak areas of characteristic functional groups, such as methylsilicone, the silicone-oxygen backbone, carbon-hydrogen bonds, and hydroxyl groups, exhibited a significant decreasing trend with increasing aging levels. However, the absorption peak area data showed substantial variability among the samples. Further statistical analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) verified the limitation that single functional group characteristics cannot accurately represent the degree of aging. The study demonstrates that comprehensive multi-functional group analysis is a crucial approach for improving the accuracy of aging assessments, providing new technical insights and experimental evidence for optimizing aging evaluation and residual life prediction of composite insulators.