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Electrical insulator is a very
important component in the electric power systems such as
sub-stations and distribution & transmission lines. In the early
days, insulators were made of ceramic and glass materials. But in
1963, polymeric insulators were developed and its improvements in
design and manufacturing in the recent years have made them
attractive to utilities. It consists of a fiberglass core rod
covered by weather-sheds or skirts of polymer such as silicone
rubber, equipped with metal end fittings. It is also called
composite insulators, which means made of at least two insulating
parts – a core and housing equipped with end fittings. Polymeric
insulators have many advantages over the ceramic and glass
insulators such as good performance in contaminated environment,
light weight, easy handling, maintenance free, and considerably low
cost etc. Because of these properties it is gaining popularity
worldwide and replacing the conventional ceramic and glass
insulators.
This write-up gives the salient
features considered by GOLDSTONE in developing SILICONE RUBBER
POLYMER INSULATORS. Two aspects are to be essentially considered
in the development, one is the material suiting to the
requirements and the other is design aspect. The following few
lines will briefly describe the important aspects considered.
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