Investigating the Production Quality of Electrical Porcelain Insulators from Local Materials

Abstract

Electrical porcelain insulators were manufactured from Agai and Kutigi Clay and other locally available raw material i.e. Feldspar (Kagara), Quartz (Kadna) and Talc (Kagara). Compositions were formulated using a universal triaxial porcelain composition (kaolin, 28%; ball clay, 10%; feldspar, 35% and quartz, 25%) to produce test pieces. The pulverized and mixed compositions were molded and fired at a temperature of 1250°C. The physical and electrical properties were investigated. The results show that the samples have electrical resistance between 3.52 x 108 and 2.05 x 109, and dielectric constant between 8.7 and 11.4, with respect to the frequency considered. The results of the physical tests i.e. linear shrinkage, bulk density, water absorption and failing load were also in agreement with the standard for porcelain insulators.