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Silicon rubber insulators give
excellent performance in harsh polluted environment which is
explained briefly in subsequent lines. The pollution problem is
mainly due to the deposition of the pollutants on the insulator
i.e. on the porcelain surface in the case of disc insulator
strings. The pollutants, in nature, are hydrophilic, and hence
chances of dry band arcing is more which may lead to a flashover
and it is not a desired characteristic. Due to this reason
periodical cleaning of the insulator is imperative. In case of
silicone rubber insulator also, the pollutants will get deposited
on the weather shed. But the hydrophobicity transfer
characteristics of silicon rubber will play a major role in such
circumstances. This property is controlled by proper selection of
base Silicone rubber, dosage and particle size of ATH and degree
of cross linking of Silicone rubber of the weather shed. The
Silicone rubber compound used by Goldstone is having all the
required properties to combat with the harsh environment.
The pollutants, which are hydrophilic
in nature, are converted into hydrophobic nature due to the
hydrophobicity recovery characteristics of silicon rubber which
gives a good performance in harsh polluted environments in
comparison to porcelain insulators which do not have such
characteristic. The silicon rubber compound used by Goldstone has
been tested for hydrophobicity after exposing the material to
corona, UV radiation, arcing etc., and the results are very good.
Hence, in view of the material characteristics, the silicon rubber
compound used in manufacturing the insulators, will give good
performance in the polluted environments as mentioned above.
In addition to corona, UV radiation,
the prime importance of silicon rubber material is to possess good
resistance to tracking and erosion. The material used by Goldstone
has been tested for tracking and erosion as per IEC: 587.
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