Material Selection and Manufacturing Processes for Composite Insulators with Silicone Rubber Housing

Abstract

This chapter reports on the latest materials and production processes used in the manufacture of composite insulators. It also looks back at the development of rod materials as well as experiences relating to the in-house manufacture of glass-fibre reinforced semi-finished parts. PFISTERER SEFAG AG has more than thirty years of experience in processing low viscosity silicone rubber (namely room temperature vulcanising (RTV) rubber and, more recently, liquid silicone rubber (LSR) as well as high viscosity solid silicone rubber (namely high temperature vulcanising (HTV) rubber). Given this level of experience and silicone rubber's acknowledged importance as a reliable housing material, this chapter will focus on providing a detailed account of this group of materials. As a result of the close interaction between material formulations, applicable manufacturing processes and operation-relevant properties, the results of key material analyses will also be presented here. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.