Paint Flake and Degraded Paper Fiber

Transmitted Oblique Off Crossed Circular Polarized Light

This group of particles is from an oil sample collected from a 8400kVA transformer. This
transformer was reportedly gas blanketed and sealed. The redish flake in the center of this
image is red paint. Paint consists of a clear polymer matrix (the vehicle), pigment, and
mineral fillers and bulking agents. All are evident in this particle. The filler particles
are the bright particles most easily seen near the edge of the paint particle. There are a
number of degraded paper fibers in this field of view. These paper fragments have a degree
of polymerization below 200. Large numbers of these degraded paper fibers indicates
degradation of the core insulation.