“…Under the action of an electric field, small defects, such as voids, dirt, and metal particles, can cause partial discharge inside the polymer. High switching frequencies and sustained electrothermal stress can cause physical and electrical damage to insulation materials, and material degradation caused by electron avalanche makes polymers more sensitive to electrical breakdown. , The microscopic region around a defect is more likely to be prone to partial discharge due to the concentrated electric field, , accelerating the damage process, destroying the material structure, and leading to the formation of a dendritic structure known as an electric tree. The growth process of an electric tree can be divided into four stages, as shown in Figure a.…”