formers Mr.

Lee, for example, feels that cycling once a day should be sufficient and that high-potential and induce tests after heat aging and after humidity exposure are unnecessary. Both of these are a function of the eventual application of the transformer and of what a designer chooses to call the failure point. We see no objection to cycling once a day if this is more representative of the application nor do we insist on a failure point at a dielectric stress level higher than that required for normal operation as long as the data are properly documented. Similarly, referring to oil-filled electronic transformers, Mr. Fenoglio suggests omitting humidity exposure altogether and adjusting the cycling schedule to accommodate larger thermal capacities. These are very logical innovations which fit into the philosophy of a test code designed for each transformer type and for particular service requirements within each type. In addition to these differences another has been noted in correspondence with electronic equipment designers. They have observed the lack of provision in the proposed test code in the paper for a cold soak at -65 C prior to the beginning of the weekly heat aging. This observation is well founded since some of their equipment must pass certain specifications of which the cold soak phase is a part. If the transformer is destined for this equipment, then definitely the exposure at -65 C should be included to properly evaluate the behavior of the insulation system. Mr. Fenoglio's discussion in particular should serve as a basis for the formulation of a test code for small oil-filled transformers

used in electronic equipment. Mr. Garbarino has expressed the opinion that if the basic characteristics of an insulation system could be independent of size or type of equipment, then a less restricted test code would allow for more common ground for exchange of information among designers. This statement would be true if he had used the word material instead of system. Unfortunately, as Dr. Narbut's discussion implies, there are many combinations of materials that form systems and just as many applications for which these systems must be designed. This is the reason that the AIEE Power Division Committees are finding it necessary to write functional test codes to classify insulation systems properly. This, of course, is in addition to the classification of materials established by the AIEE Basic Sciences Committee. Mr. Garbarino has also expressed an objection to the evaluation of the over-all construction rather than the insulation system. It is not only true that the over-all construction is evaluated but it is also necessary. Variations in manufacturing technique must be taken into account, for example, but, as the paper points out, it is very important to find out where in the system failure occurs to interpret the data properly. Mr. Garbarino further states that the dielectric stresses in a transformer are well below average for the material and the mechanical stresses they are subjected to are unknown. The operating dielectric stresses are a fraction of what the insulation can stand initially. However, the designer must make provision for transient stresses and for the deterioration of dielectric strength as the

insulation is aged. It is true that the magnitude of the mechanical stresses are unknown although in many applications these stresses are known to be present. Therefore, their presence must be simulated by what is considered to be a representative value in a test code. Mr. Lee suggests that the relative humidity and temperature should be more closely defined. The authors agree with this suggestion and with the 93% relative-humidity value. The 65-C temperature value, however, seems high. A 35-C42-C value would seem adequate. Mr. Lee feels that a 10,000-hour life for class-A insulation at 100 C is inadequate. This is an instance mentioned previously of what is selected as the failure point of the insulation. For the data in Fig. 1 the test dielectric stress was determined by the relation given in step 4 of the proposed test code. When the insulation failed to pass this value, it was considered to have failed-not when it would no longer operate at normal voltage and load as Mr. Lee probably interpreted the curve. In addition, to simulate the conditions in a broadcast transmitter or other specialized application the test cycle could be made less severe, thereby increasing the test life of the transformers. We believe that the test code as proposed in the paper with modifications enumerated in the closure is basically sound. Being sufficiently flexible, it should closely simulate and realistically evaluate in the laboratory the service conditions that most insulation systems in electronic transformers are exposed to. It should therefore form the basis for the writing of a test code for small dry-type transformers.

Crepe Papers and Crepe-Paper Cables

G. CAMILLI
FELLOW AIEE

L. MULLIGAN
NONMEMBER AIEE

ASSOCIATE MEMBER AIEE

E. L. CRANDALL

Synopsis: Varnished cambric tape has been used as electric insulation very extensively in the past because of its high dielectric strength, stretchability to fit irregular surfaces, and relatively high resistance to humidity. However, this material is relatively expensive, and seriously contaminates the Askarels. Two new high-density crepe papers have now been developed to replace the varnished cambric. For the same thickness and width, the tear strength of one of these new crepe papers is equal to that of the varnished cambric, while its lengthwise tensile strength is almost three times as high. The dielectric strength of this crepe paper at both 60 cycles and impulse tests compares very favorably with the varnished cambric. The second of these new crepe papers is characterized with 2-way stretch and is suitable for producing cables with great flexibility. The electrical, physical, and chemical characteristics of this new paper are also comparable to those of varnished cambric. Cables insulated with this new crepe paper can be advantageously used for both oil and Askarel transformers.

IN THE manufacture of transformers a considerable amount of varnished cloth has been used for the taping of irregular surfaces such as joints, terminals, etc., and an even greater amount in the making of flexible cables used in liquidfilled transformers. As varnished cambric is rather expensive, and deleterious to the Askarels, two new kinds of crepe paper have been developed equal to the varnished cambric in electrical and physical characteristics, harmless to the Askarels, and far more economical. Although crepe-paper insulation has been used in the electrical industry for many years,1-' until recently it did not possess the tensile strength of varnished cloth or the electrical characteristic of the plain kraft paper. Nevertheless, the material played an important role in the design and insulation of high-voltage equipment. It is worth noting, for in-

complished.

stance, that the large reduction in the size and weight of high-voltage current and potential transformers brought about in recent vears was due to a very large extent to the use of crepe paper. It was realized, however, that if crepe paper was to replace varnished cambric in transformers, and have more diversified use, some of its characteristics had to be improved. This has now been largely ac-

Crepe Paper as a Substitute for Other Taping Materials

An analysis of the old industrial crepe paper, which included physical and elecPaper 54-78, recommended by the AIEE Transformers and Insulated Conductors Committees and approved by the AIEE Committee on Technical Operations for presentation at the AIEE Winter General Meeting, New York, N. Y., January 18-22, 1954. Manuscript submitted September 14, 1953; made available for printing November 27, 1933. G. CAMILLI, L. MULLIGAN, and E. L. CRANDALL are with the General Electric Company, Pittsfield, Mass. The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of Dr. C. W. Stillwell of the Dennison Manufacturing Company in the development of the crepe papers, and the assistance of C. H. Matthews, M. Guarnier, F. J. Turner, and J. E. McDonough, all of the General Electric Company, in carrying out the developmental testing.

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course, may be different for different types of material and should be determined for the particular crepe paper under investigation. The effect of tension on the thickness of a typical crepe paper is shown in Fig. 6.

Crepe-Paper Cables
In the past, cables for use in power and distribution transformers have been insulated either with varnished cambric or manila paper. Because varnished cambric contaminates the Askarels the use of varnished cambric cables has been limited to oil-filled transformers. The use of manila (uncreped)-insulated cables has not been extended to high-voltage power transformers because they lack the flexibility and over-all electrical properties of the varnished-cambric cables. Askarel power transformers are used in relatively

Fig. 1. Photomicrograph (100 times) of a section of commercial-grade crepe paper showing ruptures of the fibers made during the creping
process

Fig. 2. Photomicrograph (200 times) of a section of an improved crepe paper described in the paper

trical tests, microscopic examination, and a study of the creping manufacturing method, uncovered the presence of internal ruptures produced during the creping process. Fig. 1 shows a cross section of one of the old crepe papers; the clearly visible internal ruptures are responsible for the paper's relatively poor physical characteristics. These papers were formed on the continuous wire screen of a Fourdrinier-type paper machine and it was apparent that the pulp-refining methods used to make the base paper were unsuitable for obtaining tensile strength and fiber cohesion necessary to withstand the creping process. In addition, the density of the base papers was not great enough to give good electrical characteristics in the finished product. The improved papers are much denser and in some cases consist of a mixture of 70-per-cent kraft (wood pulp) and 30-per-cent manila fibers. Manila fibers, from 0.125 to 0.5 inch in length, are almost invariably obtained from old cordage which has been disintegrated by boiling in caustic soda. The wood pulp is first chipped and then chemically treated to dissolve certain constituents which are undesirable in the paper. The fibers of the wood pulp range in length from 0.1 to 0.3 inch. The addition of very strong, highly flexible manila fibers to the pulp mixture gives the base paper the necessary strength to withstand the creping process. In addition, the new base papers are made on a cylinder paper machine which characteristically produces a paper which has the highest tensile strength in the lengthwise direction and the highest tearing strength and elongation in the crosswise direction. Increased density has been obtained by selected pulp-refining methods. That the new paper withstands the

creping process without excessive internal corruption may be appreciated by comparing Fig. 2 with Fig. 1. The physical and electrical properties of this new crepe paper are compared with those of biascut varnished cambric in Table I. Dielectric tests in uniform field were made using the electrodes shown in Fig. 3. Those in nonuniform field were made with the electrodes shown in Fig. 4. The knife edge of one of the electrodes should be noted. In the application of crepe paper as a substitute for varnished cambric the question arises whether or not the dielectric strength is a function of the amount of stretch removed from the paper. Fig. 5 shows that for this type of material the dielectric strength is highest when the thickness of the tape (by tension) is reduced to approximately 60 per cent of the unstretched tape. The value quoted, of

low-voltage systems where the required cable insulation is relatively thin and the stiffness of low-voltage manila cables has been tolerated without serious disadvantages. It should be noted that cables used for the internal connections of transformers should be very flexible. In many cases these cables are bent to a radius equal to twice their insulated diameter. In highvoltage power transformers, where the use of cables with heavy wall thicknesses is a necessity, flexibility is an important problem. Until recently, flexibility was obtained by the use of varnished-cambric cables at a sacrifice of other characteristics. It is well-known, for instance, that oil-impregnated kraft paper has superior electrical characteristics over manila paper and varnished cambric, and that

Table 1. Comparative Data Between Biased Varnished Cambric and Crepe Paper for Taping
Characteristics
Crepe Paper
0.005 ...... 100 0.025. 1.00 .......

Biased Varnished
Cambric
0.012 12

Original thickness of base material, inches ................................ Available elongation, per cent* ......................................... Thickness of crepe paper before elongation is removed, inches ........ Apparent density, grams per cubic centimeter (elongation removed) .........

17 38 6

Pounds required to remove: 27 80 per cent of available elongation .................................... 35 90 per cent of available elongation .................................... 7 No. of 1/2 lap wraps per 100-mil thickness ............................... 3.85 Coverage of square yards per poundt .................................... 40 Approximate relative cost per pound, per cent ............................ 11.6 .............. Average tensile strength, pounds per inch width per mil ..... 25 Tear strength cross machine direction grams force per milt ................. 60-cycle breakdown, volts per mil 508 Uniform field ....................................................... Nonuniform field ................................................... 425 Impulse breakdown, volts per mil Uniform field ....................................................... 1,100 Nonuniform field (positive polarity) ................................... 1,200

....... ....

100 4 21.5 400 400

3.28

.......

1,360
....... .......

(negative polarity) .................................. 1,180 * Crepe paper can be made with any elongation from 10 to 300 per cent. t Assuming 80 per cent of available stretch removed during taping.

970 930

All electrical properties apply to samples vacuum oil treated and tested under oil and having an insulation wall thickness of 200 mils.

$ In determining tue physical properties of crepe paper, the thickness refers to the base paper.

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CD -j

30
20

z
z

0
0

TENSION IN POUNDS PER I" WIDE TAPE

Fig. 6. Effect of tension on the thickness of

crepe paper used for taping

Fig. 3. Tape-testing electrodes, uniform field

short radius. A 2-way-stretch crepe paper of the type shown in Fig. 7, having excellent electrical quality, is now available and has been used in the manufacture of cables for use in power transformers.

Cable Manufacture
For this application the base paper used for the tape has a thickness of approximately 0.004 inch and, after creping a thickness of approximately 0.018 with a stretch of approximately 50 per cent in the lengthwise direction of the tape and approximately 20 per cent in the crosswise direction. The lengthwise elongation is so set (with creping compound) that only one-half the available elongation is removed at 5-pound tension per inch width. Slitting the master rolls of crepe-paper insulation into the required tape width in pad form requires good tension control on the supply roll and pickup pads. This is required to prevent excessive stretching of the crepe paper. Application of the crepe-paper tape to the cable also requires exceptionally good tension control and a precision type of tape-insulating machine, the same as used for high-voltage paper-insulated power cables. After insulating, the usual single cotton braid is applied over-all. To prevent contamination of the under-

200

OUTER ELEGTROI
(SPUN COPPER)

Di

(MATERIAL BEING
INNER ELECTRODE

~~~REPE PAPER

TAF

SECTION

A-A

Fig. 4. Tape-testing electrodes, nonuniform field. Note knife edge of the inner electrode
the axis of the cable. It can be seen that in this case, when the cable is bent, the crepe paper will yield with an accordionlike effect. These ideal conditions could be met by using a creped tape in which the corrugations make an angle with the axis of the tape approximately equal to the angle which the axis of the tape makes with the perpendicular to the axis of the cable. In applying an insulating paper tape about a conductor, the tape is wound spirally around the conductor and makes an angle with respect to the axis of the cable designated as the angle of lay Simultaneously the cable is advanced axially at a constant speed. While the pitch of the tape remains constant the angle of lay changes because of the increased circumference of the insulated cable. Thus, the ideal conditions cannot be met for all layers of the insulation. A solution to the problem of obtaining maximum cable flexibility is obtained by the use of 2-way-stretch crepe paper. Regardless of what the angle of lay may be for any particular layer of the insulation, the 2-way-stretch crepe paper can supply the necessary components of elongation when the cable is bent on a

oil-immersed paper-insulated cables may be operated at slightly higher temperatures than varnished cambric. This latter means that for the same operating temperatures paper-insulated cables should have better aging characteristics than cables insulated with varnished cambric. Kraft-paper insulated cable, of course, can be used in both oil and Askarel transformers. This problem of flexibility has been solved recently by the use of a special 2-way crepe paper for the dielectric of the cable. A study reveals that great flexibility would be obtained if the conductor were insulated in such a manner that, in the finished cable, the corrugations of the crepe paper would be perpendicular to
CREPE PAPER FOR TAPING

UNIFORM FIELD 1/2 LAP - 14 WRAPS

cx =)
100

50

20

40

60

80

100

THICKNESS IN % OF THE UNSTRETCHED PAPER

Fig. 5. Effect of stretch on the dielectric strength of crepe paper. Test with the crepe paper between two rounded electrodes

Fig. 7. A cable insulated with 2-way-stretch be easily bent to small radii of curvature, because during the bending both components of elongations (A and B) are supplied by the crepe paper
crepe paper can

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Table 11. Comparison Between Varnished Cambric and Crepe-Paper Insulated Cables450/24 American Wire Gauge Conductor with 0.375-Inch Insulation Wall Thickness*
Ckaracteristics
Varnished Cambric
Paper

Crepe

60-cycle breakdown, kv 196 Looped cables ................ 203. Crossed cables............... 203 .....216 Impulse breakdown (l'/2x4Omicrosecond wave), kv Looped cables ................ 545 ..... 610 Crossed cables................565 .....690 60 cycles per cent power factor at 0.8 25 degrees centigrade . ......... 3.2 9. 1 ..... 6.5 100 degrees centigrade
.....

* All tests made with the samples vacuum oiltreated and tested under oil.

lying untreated crepe-paper tapes, and to prevent any delay during final drying and treating operati on, this braid is not treated with varnish.

Electrical Tests
Comparative test results made on varnished cambric and 2-way-stretch paper-insulated cables are shown in Table II. The data apply to cables with a 450/24 American Wire Gauge conductor
.

with 0.375-inch insulation wall thickness. Two methods' of positioning the cables during the tests were used: one with straight cables "crossed" at right angles at their centers and the other with cables "looped" to form bights, the loops being in the same plane and the contact being at the looped portions. The radii of the loops were made approximately four times the insulated diameter of the cable. Tests were made with samples under oil after being vacuum-dried and vacuumfilled with deareated oil. Repeated bending of these cables does not materially effect the results obtained in Table II. Exposing the cables for a short time to an atmosphere of high humidity after vacuum treatment seems to effect the 60cycle strength of both varnished-cambric and crepe-paper insulated cables to the same degree. The impulse strength of both types of cables does not seem to be adversely effected by high humidity as much as the 60-cycle strength.

degree than the varnished cambric cables. The minimum radius of curvature, which causes no breakage of the tapes at present, seems to be four times the outside diameter of the cable. Improvements in the manufacture of the 2-way crepe paper will certainly improve this limitation.

Conclusions
Two kinds of crepe paper are now available which are physically and electrically equal or superior to varnished cambric. The 1-way-creped papers have been successfully used for general tape insulation, and the 2-way-creped papers have been used advantageously in the manufacture of flexible cables which are applicable in both oil and Askarel-filled transformers.

References
1. NEw DEVELOPMENTS IN CURRENT-TRANSFORMER D SIGN, G. Camilli. AIEE Transactions, vol. 59, 1940, pp. 835-42. 2. NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN POTENTIAL-TRANS. FORMER DESIGN, G. Camili. AIEE Transactions (Electrical Engineering), vol. 62, July 1943, pp.

Bending Characteristics of the New Cables

Repeated tests seem to indicate that these cables can be bent to a slightly less
_~V~

483-87. 3. VACUUM-PLASTIC-FILLED INSULATED VOLTAGE TRANSFORMERS, E. C. Wentz, F. B. Colby. Electrical Engineering, vol. 71, July 1952, p. 631.

Discussion
L. Meyerhoff and W. H. Cortelyou (General Cable Corporation, Bayonne, N. J.): The authors state that manila-insulated cables lack the flexibility and over-all electrical properties of varnished cambric cables and also state that the dielectric strength of 2way-stretch crepe paper on both 60 cycles and impulse tests compares favorably with varnished cambric. Tests performed in our laboratory have shown that properly made manila insulated cable has flexibility comparable to that of similar cable insulated with 2-way-stretch crepe paper, retains its shape much better after bending, and has consistently greaterin some cases 50 per cent greater-dielectric strength. For our tests we used a 4/0 American Wire Gauge rope-stranded conductor, insulated with 250 mils of the desired insulation. The insulation of two of the samples consisted of 2-way-stretch crepe paper, the tapes being applied with light

tension in one sample and medium tension in the other. A third sample was insulated with 5-mil manila tapes 1/2-inch wide. To compare flexibility, specimens were bent over mandrels of various radii, from 1.5 to 4 times the cable diameter. The specimens, clamped at one end to the mandrel, were fed through a loose-fitting guide tube tangent to the mandrel which was turned at a constant angular rate of 1.1 turns per minute. The torque required was measured and is given in Table III. After the bending force was released the cables in all cases sprang back somewhat, the crepe-paper samples springing back much farther than the manila sample. The procedure was to hold the samples in the bent position for 5 minutes and then to permit them to spring back for 5 minutes. Results are shown in Table IV. Although the manila paper cable requires slightly greater bending forces for the smaller diameter bends, the much smaller spring-back is a benefit which might easily outweigh the slight disadvantage of in-

creased stiffness. For a bending radius of four times the cable diameter, the bending force required is the same for all three cables, but the spring-back for the manila paper cable is less than one-quarter that for the crepe-paper samples. Samples were also subjected to 1.5x40microsecond impulse tests and to 60-cycle breakdown tests. They were bent about mandrels of the desired radii and equipped with flat-strip ground electrodes, which were bent to the required curvature and tied against the outside surfaces of the bent samples. The samples were then dried under heat and vacuum, impregnated in transformer oil, and immersed in a container of transformer oil for the tests. The type of sample used is believed to approach more closely the actual conditions in a transformer than do the types of samples described by the authors. Results for the two kinds of breakdown tests are given in Table V.

Table V. Impulse and 60-Cycle Breakdown Tests

Bend Radius in Terms of Cable Diameter

Table Ill. Torque in Pounds-Feet For Various Bends

Bend Radius in Terms of Cable Diameter

Table IV. Spring-Back, Per-Cent Increase in Loop Diameter

Bend Radius in Terms of Cable Diameter

Two-Way Crepe, Light

Tension

Two-Way Crepe,
Medium Tension

Two-Way Crepe, Light

Two-Way Crepe,
Medium Tension

Tensios;

5-Mil Manila

Two-Way Crepe, Light

Tension

Two-Way Crepe,
Medium Tension

5-Mil Manila

Manila

5-Miu
20
20 14 9

Impulse Breakdown, I.5x40-Microsecond Wave, Kv

2. 3.

. 20 1.5t...... 20 ........ 22.5 .. 2 . . 17.5 3 . .. 4

19.5 ....... 28.5 24 20.5 . 21.5 19 . 15.5 .5 15

29 . 1.5 . 36 . 2 . 45 . 3 . 4 ........... 58 ........

41 .
51 . 60 .

30.

355 230.. 245. 260.. 290 . 345

Breakdown at 60 Cycles, Kv 95 . 2. 80 . 85 . 95 . 3.

105 115

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It was observed that whereas the manila tapes showed no breaks or severe creasing in any case as a result of bending, the 2-waystretch paper exhibited severe circumferential indentation folds in the inner part of the loop in the case of the smaller radius bends. This creasing resulted in reduced dielectric strength, as evidenced by the fact that the breakdown path in the crepe-paper samples started generally from the side of the conductor on the inside of the bend, and followed a helical path around to the ground strip on the outside of the loop. In the case of the manila samples the failure path was generally radial on the outside of the loop. Although it is realized that comparisons of different types of samples and perhaps different test conditions are not fully justified, it may nevertheless be of value to compare breakdown values reported by the authors with those obtained by us. From the data in Table IV an impulse value of 815 to 920 volts per mil may be calculated for the authors' crepe-paper samples. This compares with 920 to 1,160 volts per mil on our crepe-paper samples and with 1,380 to 1,420 volts per mil on our manila sample. The 60-cycle value calculated from Table II for their crepe-paper samples is 260 to 290 volts per mil, as compared with values of 320 to 380 volts per mil on our crepepaper samples and 420 to 460 volts per mil on our manila sample. Apparently the authors were concerned merely with producing a transformer lead which would have characteristics approaching those of a varnished-cloth-insulated lead and be capable of being used in Askarels as well as in transformer oils. Our tests, on the other hand, had for their purpose the production of a paper-insulated lead which would have the best obtainable electric strength compatible with the mechanical requirements of transformer leads. With manila paper the electric strength, while not quite as high as can be obtained with wood pulp under ideal conditions, is materially higher than with crepe paper. It is well to remember that crepe paper must have inherently lower dielectric strength than good flat paper because crepe paper, due to its folds, must produce lower density insulation than flat paper, or in other words, must have a lower ratio of paper substance to oil.

the authors will say something about the amount of permanent set that takes place when the dry paper is stretched and also when it is stretched after saturation with transformer oil. In a report' that dealt with the effects of temperature on paper insulation in transformer oil it was noted that some types of paper tended to absorb the high powerfactor materials resulting from the oil deterioration; also that, while this appeared to reduce the power factor of the oil, at the same time it increased the power factor of the paper. The report showed also that while the acidity of the oil itself increased only slightly after a prescribed aging, there was a marked increase in oil acidity when certain combinations of paper and oil were subjected to the same aging. The same report indicated that some kinds of paper had a tendency to become brittle after exposure to transformer oil at elevated temperatures. Both the kraft and rag papers appeared to resist heat much better than manila paper. Perhaps the authors will be able to say a little about the aging characteristics and the effects of elevated temperatures, such as might occur during short overloads, on the characteristics of the crepe paper they describe. REFERENCE
C. C. Petersen, L. W. Matsch. AIEEE Transactions, vol. 70, pt. I, 1951, pp. 18-21.
1. DETERIORATION OF TRANSFORMER OIL AND PAPER INSULATION BY TEMPERATURES, F. J. Vogel,

jected

around a small radius, would seem to be of considerable importance. I can visualize loose insulation on the conductor if the crepe paper loses its elasticity when subto

stretching or bending. Perhaps

joints or terminations.

obtained when the test mandrels of crepe paper were wrapped and merely immersed and tested in oil. The low-loss varnishedcambric tape mandrels were quite consistent and in general gave higher dielectric breakdown values. On the other hand, vacuum treatment of the crepe-paper tape mandrel and impregnation with degasified oil raised the radial dielectric strength consistently above the varnished-cambric tape even when the varnished-cambric tape mandrels were similarly treated. This would indicate that the dielectric strength of crepe paper is highly dependent on oil impregnation and absence of voids. I have had quite a few test experiences which lead me to believe that crepe-paper tape, even when vacuum-treated and tested under oil at 50 to 100 pounds per square inch, does not exhibit the longitudinal or axial dielectric strength of half-lapped, lowloss varnished-cambric tape when subjected to high-voltage impulse stresses. I believe that this weakness can be attributed to the longitudinal channels formed as the tape is applied on cylindrical devices such as cable

strength (short-time
mum or

I appreciate that the data presented are intended to be relative but it would be interesting to know what type of electrical test was used to determine the 60-cycle dielectric
or long-time) and whether the dielectric strengths are maxi-

average stresses.

B. R. Hubbard (John A. Roebling's Sons Corporation, Trenton, N. J.): The authors are to be congratulated on the presentation of a paper of timely interest to engineers interested in oil-filled transformers. It is appreciated that the subject is too broad to cover all the aspects of it in a paper like this. There are, however, a few points that are worthy of further consideration. For instance, the tabulation of comparative characteristics shown in Table I appears to refer primarily to measurements made on dry crepe paper. In practice the paper is submerged in transformer oil. I would be interested to know what effect the immersion of the paper in transformer oil would have on tensile strength, tear resistance, and the force required to remove a given percentage of the available elongation. Since the primary function of the creping is to improve flexibility, the ability of the paper to retain its creping after it has been stretched, for example, by bending the cable

used on solid-type cables with asphaltic or vinsol resin compound filled casings. I have made many electrical tests with various types of oil-impregnated crepepaper tapes (impregnated with and without Vistanex compound) using test mandrels similar to Fig. 3. Very erratic results were

J. H. Nicholas (G and W Electric Specialty Company, Chicago, Ill.): The authors, in their synopsis and conclusions, have made rather definite statements that a crepepaper tape is now available which is superior both physically and electrically to presentday varnish cambric tape. I wonder whether their unqualified statements were intended to cover only specific applications in transformers and not in the entire field of insulations. I refer specifically to the footnotes in Tables I and II which state that the samples were vacuum oil treated. By vacuum oil treatment I assume that the test mandrels were wrapped with the tapes, vacuum oil impregnated, and then tested in oil. If this is the case, then a word of caution is warranted to avoid the possible substitution of crepe paper for varnished-cambric tape in an application not favorable to its use. There are many applications of wrapped insulation which are not subject to vacuum oil treatment and where the use of the oilimpregnated crepe paper tape might be disastrous because of oil migration from the tape. Such would be the case in high-voltage power cable joints and terminations

B. P. Kang (Anaconda Wire and Cable Company, Hastings-on-Hudson, N. Y.): The authors have ably pointed out the versatility and advantages of the use of crepe papers for various applications as an electric insulator. Their excellent ability to combine with practically all insulating compounds, their ease of application, and their low cost are well recognized. Their eventually successful use in many fields of highvoltage insulation will be a major contribution of the authors. From the several discussions offered at the meeting, it was clearly indicated that the

electrical properties such as dielectric

strength,

factor, and aging stability their parent material, impregnated manila rope paper. However, in the discussions no explanation was voiced for the cause or causes of this degradatioll.
were not up to

power

Fig. 8 (left). Electric stress on a singleconductor cable insulated with impregnated plain paper 9 Electric stress on a singleFig. (right). conductor cable insulated with impregnated
C-conductor P-impregnated pdper S-shield E-electric stress (over-all) ER normal component of electric stress ET-tangential component of electric stress
crepe paper

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JUNE 1 954

ER

E
ET

Fig. 10. Enlarged vector diagram of electric stress on a single-conductor cable insulated with impregnated crepe paper See subcaption of Figs. 8 and 9 for meaning of symbols
From some of my experiments and with a little reasoning, two causes appear quite reasonable for this degradation. The average value of dielectric constant of manila rope paper impregnated with a standard cable oil is about 3.25, while the crepe paper impregnated with the same oil rarely has a dielectric constant above 2.50. The dielectric constant of this oil alone is about 2.25. The first cause of degradation thus seems due to the increase in the oil/paper ratio which is shown by the decrease in dielectric constant of the impregnated crepe paper in comparison with plain manila rope paper impregnated under the same conditions. Since oil itself has a lower dielectric strength than that of impregnated paper, the presence of the excessive quantity of oil naturally tends to reduce the dielectric strength. The second cause is the introduction of tangential stress even in a single-conductor cable or a shielded three-conductor cable. The conditions may be illustrated by Figs. 8-10. From Fig. 8 it can be seen that the electric stress on a layer of impregnated paper insulation in a shielded cable is practically normal to the paper surface and no appreciable tangential component of the stress is present. Fig. 9 represents a cable insulated with crepe paper, the enlarged stress diagram of which is shown in Fig. 10. Since the diagrams represent single-conductor shielded cables, the general direction of the stress can be represented by straight lines from the conductor to the shield. With respect to the entire cable or the over-all insulation, the stress is essentially radial. However, if one takes into consideration each single layer of the crepe-paper tapes, the condition as illustrated in Fig. 10 exists. The stress with respect to each single layer of crepe-paper tape may be resolved into two components, one normal to the surface of the paper and the other parallel to it. This parallel component is the tangential stress on the paper insulation. The magnitude of this component varies from point to point, depending on the bending or folding of the paper. It is well known that the effects of tangential stress on impregnated paper cable insulation are much more severe than those of radial stress. This may account for the low dielectric strength, high power factor, and relatively poor electric stability as reported in the discussions. Once the causes are known, further work may be initiated to eliminate these short-

G. Camilli, L. Mulligan, and E. L. Crandall: The data presented by Mr. Meyerhoff and Mr. Cortelyou are very interesting; however, their results are based on one set of samples representing one type and size of cable with only a 1/4-inch wall insulation. No data were given as to the test conditions such as the humidity and temperature of the paper when the bending tests were performed. We believe that a marked difference in the test results between our crepepaper cables and their manila cables would have been obtained if a full range of conductor size and insulation wall thickness were used and the tests conducted under a wide range of humidity conditions. We are at a loss in understanding why the smaller spring-back obtained in their manila cables is of any benefit. It seems to us that this indicates a permanent set in the insulation which will cause a loose insulation if the cable is subjected to repeated bendings. There is a marked difference in the method of electrical testing used by the authors and that used by Meyerhoff and Cortelyou. We believe that our methods simulate more closely the manner in which cables are used in power transformers. Meyerhoff and Cortelyou are, of course, well aware of the fact that in our nonuniform field testing, with much thicker insulation than in their test, naturally lower volts per mil are obtained. When we tested cables with 1/4inch total thickness, dielectric strengths of the order of 400 to 440 volts per mil at 60 cycles and of the order of 1,060 to 1,210 volts per mil at impulse were obtained. It might be of interest also to mention that we get the same breakdown values when tests are performed with the cables in oil at 75 degrees centigrade on a 24-hour step-bystep method, as we do at 25 degrees centigrade on a 1-minute step-by-step method. Probably the denser insulation of the manila cables will not exhibit this long-time stress characteristic. It is well recognized by the industry that, from an electrical standpoint, manila paper is inferior to kraft paper nor is it as uniform in over-all quality. Manila paper also has poorer thermal mechanical aging characteristics than kraft paper. Crepe-paper cables have now been produced for several years with completely satisfactory results. With reference to Mr. Hubbard's comments, we wish to mention that the data shown in Table I refer to tests made under normalized conditions, that is, 50-per-cent relative humidity and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Transformer oil as,such, without heat treatment of the paper, has no effect on the tensile strength and tear resistance of the crepe paper if the paper which has been wetted with oil has the same amount of moisture as it had in the dry condition. The original available stretch and tensile strength of a given crepe paper is -usually lowered by heat treatment. Our dielectric strength tests were made after several bendings of the cables, and the results shown in Table II were obtained after these bendings. It should of course be recognized that cables which are used in power transformers are usually bent before impregnation with oil. The conclusions reached in the paper by

Vogel, Petersen, and Matsch mentioned in Mr. Hubbard's discussion are that kraft and rag papers exhibit better thermal and electrical stability than manila paper. As far as we can determine, the particular aging characteristics of the crepe papers under discussion would be represented by the oilimpregnated kraft paper cited in the article. We would like to point out, however, that the rate at which the tensile strength of the kraft paper decreases under similar test conditions is not quite as rapid as indicated by Vogel, Petersen, and Match. Manila paper does not age as well as kraft paper. With reference to Mr. Nicholas's discussion, our comparison between varnishedcambric and crepe papers deals only with applications in fluid-filled equipment in which the insulating paper is vacuumtreated and impregnated with a fluid after it has been wound in place. Oil-impregnated crepe-paper tape for joint or terminal use is an entirely different application than the present paper covers. Suffice to say that preimpregnated crepe-paper tape for cable accessories was developed several years ago, has proved to be most satisfactory, and is still used for fluid-filled cable accessories at all ratings. The tape has enjoyed an excellent service record. Users find it easy to use in the field and appreciate especially being able to build up heavy cones without the danger of slippage which is always a problem with varnished cambric. Crepe paper intended to be used for joints is vacuum-treated and kept under oil (in cans) until it is used. After completion of the joints, these are evacuated and then filled with deaerated oil. We believe this same procedure was followed when varnished-cambric tape was used in making the
The dielectric data on the crepe papers used for taping, which are reported in Table I, are the results of short-time tests and are the average values from many samples. With reference to Mr. Kang's discussion, we question the reference to manila paper as the parent material because the crepe paper for cables is made from kraft paper. We do not agree that kraft paper cables are inferior to manila cables from the dielectric strength, power factor, and the electrical stability standpoints. We agree with Mr. Kang's comments on the effect of the ratio of oil to paper and their dielectric constants on the dielectric strength of a cable if we are concerned only with short-time tests. No doubt Mr. Kang is familiar with the results of an investigation carried on by Prof. Whitehead' at The Johns Hopkins University in which it was shown that low density papers have much higher long-time dielectric strength than denser papers. Mr. Kang's comments on tangential and radial stresses appear to be based on a cable for transmission of electric power rather than for the particular application discussed in our paper.
REFERENCE
PREGNATED PAPER

joint.

comings.

OP DENSITY OF THEt

INSULATION-I. THE INFLUENCE PAPER, J. B. Whitehead. AIEE Transactions, vol. 59, 1940, pp. 715-20.

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Camilli, Mulligan, Crandall-Crepe Papers and Crepe-Paper Cables

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