Unsaturated Polyester Resin Impregnation for Electrical Windings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing impregnating, potting, and coating compounds for electrical components, particularly those using unsaturated polyester resins, face challenges with reaction shrinkage during curing, leading to cracks in thick layers, and require reactive diluents that pose ecological and toxicological concerns.

Innovation Solution

A resin formulation comprising 80-99% unsaturated polyester resin with dihydrodicyclopentadiene structural units and 1-20% polybutadiene, along with emulsion-stabilizing additives and curing accelerators, forming a two-phase system that cures without cracks and exhibits excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If unsaturated polyester resin is used for impregnating electrical windings, then good electrical insulation and thermal stability are achieved, but reaction shrinkage during curing causes cracks in thick layers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical insulation qualityVSAvoidcrack formation in thick layers
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines unsaturated polyester resin with polybutadiene rubber to create a composite impregnating compound. The polybutadiene acts as a flexible modifier that compensates for the shrinkage stresses during curing, preventing crack formation while maintaining the electrical insulation properties of the polyester resin base system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the impregnating compound by incorporating polybutadiene at specific concentrations (5-20 parts by weight per 100 parts polyester resin). This parameter change alters the curing behavior and shrinkage characteristics of the resin system, enabling thick layer application without cracks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If reactive diluents such as styrene are added to unsaturated polyester resin, then viscosity is reduced and ease of application is improved, but ecological and toxicological problems arise requiring special emission control measures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication easeVSAvoidemissions and toxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional reactive diluents like styrene with polybutadiene, changing the chemical composition parameters. This substitution maintains the necessary fluidity and application characteristics while eliminating the harmful emissions and toxicological issues associated with styrene and similar monomers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses polybutadiene as a non-volatile, environmentally friendly alternative to volatile reactive diluents. This substitution eliminates the need for complex emission control infrastructure while maintaining proper impregnation properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Area of stationary object

If thick layers are applied to accommodate large generator and motor windings, then complete coverage is achieved, but cracks form during curing due to reaction shrinkage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidcrack formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite system where polybutadiene rubber particles are dispersed in the polyester resin matrix. This composite structure provides the flexibility needed to accommodate shrinkage stresses in thick layers, enabling complete coverage of large generator and motor windings without crack formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The polybutadiene additive acts as a pre-built cushioning element within the resin system, providing built-in stress relief capacity before curing begins. This allows the thick impregnating layer to withstand shrinkage forces during curing without developing cracks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The formulation provides crack-resistant, thermally stable coatings suitable for large electrical machines, with stable properties in both storage and cured states, and can be used for insulating equipment like motors and transformers without the need for reactive diluents.

Implementation Method 1

a two-phase system of an unsaturated polyester resin and a polybutadiene resin that is incompatible with it—that is, not homogeneously miscible with the polyester resin in any proportion—cures without cracks

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

0 to 5.0% by weight of one or more curing accelerators as component D

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP2663598B1Impregnating resin formulation for electrical windings
Publication Date: 2017.04.26 ELANTAS

AI summary

The invention relates to a resin formulation containing a) 80 to 99 wt % of at least one unsaturated polyester resin or a mixture of an unsaturated polyester resin and a further resin as component A; b) 1 to 20 wt % of at least one polybutadiene as component B; c) 0 to 5.0 wt % of one or more emulsion stabilizing additives as component C; d) 0 to 5.0 wt % of one or more curing accelerators as component D, wherein the sum of the components A to D is 100 wt %.