Cellulosic pulp has been processed into insulation paper since the earliest days of electrical engineering. This polymer synthetized by nature has proved to be competitive to man-made plastics throughout the last century and is still widely used in electrical power transformers. The high working temperatures prevailing in such apparatuses and the desired lifespans of up to 40 years shifted the thermal stability of cellulose to the center of attention of many researchers. In this literature review, a summary of theories and recent insights regarding the processes upon thermal degradation of cellulose in the temperature range relevant for electrical power transformers is given, followed by an overview of strategies to improve the thermal stability of cellulosic insulators. Special emphasis is placed on the discussion of additives and modification agents and their action modes, and on the understanding how successful upgrading of cellulose towards high thermal stability is achieved.

自最早的电气工程以来，纤维素纸浆就被加工成绝缘纸。在上个世纪以来，这种自然合成的聚合物已证明对人造塑料具有竞争力，并且仍广泛用于电力变压器中。在这种设备中普遍存在的高工作温度和期望的长达40年的使用寿命将纤维素的热稳定性转移到许多研究人员的关注中心。在这篇文献综述中，给出了有关在与电力变压器相关的温度范围内纤维素热降解过程的理论总结和最新见解，随后概述了改善纤维素绝缘子热稳定性的策略。