In　this　paper,　an　optical　imaging　detection　method　of　aging　status　diagnosis　for　operating　composite　insulators　is　proposed,　which　uses　image　processing　as　well　as　hyperspectral　imaging　technology.　Firstly,　slices　of　the　silicone　rubber　insulator　were　made　to　execute　acid　aging　experiment.　Hyperspectral　imaging　was　used　to　shoot　umbrella　skirt　slices　with　varying　degrees　of　acid　aging　status.　Secondly,　hyperspectral　analysis　was　performed　to　obtain　reflected　spectral　characteristics　at　400nm　to　1000nm.　Next,　Principle　Component　Analysis　(PCA)　was　performed　to　reconstructed　the　grayscale　images.　Finally,　the　reconstructed　grayscale　image　was　transformed　linearly　and　rendered　to　obtain　visual　detection　results　and　diagnostic　criteria.　Laboratory　verification　experiments　show　that　the　accuracy　rate　was　85%.　It　means　that　the　aging　status　and　characteristic　spectrum　of　insulators　could　be　connected　with　each　other,　which　has　great　potential　of　engineering　application.　©　2019　IEEE.