Characterizing Polymer Surfaces to Optimize Insulator Performance & Characteristics
Though only 5 to 8% of a line’s capital cost, insulators are typically associated with 50% to 70% of line maintenance costs and outages. A more reliable and durable insulator will reduce utility costs and two main challenges have been identified in this regard: chemical resistance to de-icing agents and resistance to biological growths. This presentation discusses testing of silicone rubber materials to better understand how they respond to weathering under electrical load. The aim was to identify which perform best under specific sets of chemical and physical conditions and to provide an explanation for any observed degradation so as to support efforts toward material and product optimization.