SOLIDS AS INSULATOR

NOORNABI SHAIKH
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
MUET, JAMSHORO
Solids: Conductors, Insulators
&
Semiconductors
Insulator Semiconductor
Valence Band
in red
Conduction Band: white
Conductor
Band gap
No gap
SOLIDS AS INSULATORS
Solid insulation forms an essential part of high voltage
structures. They provide the mechanical support for conducting
parts and at the same time insulate the conductors from one
another. Frequently practical insulation structures consist of
combinations of solids with liquid and/or gaseous media.
SOLID INSULATORS (DIELECTRICS)
USED IN PRACTICE
Solid insulators can be broadly classified into three groups:
a. Organic Materials
b. Inorganic Materials
c. Synthetic Polymers
Classification of Solid Insulating Materials
Organic Materials Inorganic Materials
Synthetic Polymers
Thermoplastic Thermosetting
Amber Asbestos Polyethylene Bakelite
Cotton Ceramics Perspex Epoxy resins
Paper Glass Polypropylene
Pressboard Mica Polystyrene
Rubber Polyvinyl chloride
Wax
Wood
ORGANIC MATERIALS
Organic materials are those which are produced from vegetable
or animal matter and all of them have similar characteristics.
Good insulators and can be easily adopted for practical applications.

Mechanical and electrical properties deteriorate rapidly when the
temperature exceeds 100
o
c.

Mostly absorbent solids.

They are generally used after treating with a varnish or impregnation
with an oil.

Examples are paper and press board used in cables, capacitors and
transformers.
INORGANIC MATERIALS
They do not show any appreciable reduction (< 10%) in their
electrical and mechanical properties almost up to 250
O
C.

They have compact structure, do not absorb oil or varnish except
asbestos.

Difficult to fabricate.

Very good insulators, e.g., glass, ceramics, asbestos, Mica
They are widely used for the manufacture of insulators,
bushings etc., because of their resistance to atmospheric
pollutants and their excellent performance under varying
conditions of temperature and pressure.
SYNTHETIC POLYMERS
Synthetic polymers are the polymeric materials which possess
excellent insulating properties and can be easily fabricated and
applied to the apparatus.
1. THERMOPLASTIC
having the property of softening or fusing when heated and of
hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled; "thermoplastic
materials can be re-melted and cooled time after time without
undergoing any appreciable chemical change.
Low melting point (100-120
O
C).
flexible and can be molded and extruded at temperatures below
their melting points.
Their electrical use depends on their ability to prevent the
absorption of moisture.
Examples: Perspex (Plexiglas), polyethylene, polypropylene,
polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride.
Applications: H.V cables, bushings, insulators, etc.
2. THERMOSETTING
Heat cursing solids.
Fairly good insulators.
Prevent moisture entering equipment.
Synthetic resin bonded paper (s.r.b.p) bushing widely used,
indoor, with no porcelain case.
Bakelite, epoxy, resins.
Relating to a compound that softens when initially heated, but
hardens permanently once it has cooled.
Thermosetting materials are made of long-chain polymers that
cross-link with each other after they have been heated,
rendering the substance permanently hard. " phenol resins and
plastics were the original synthetic thermosetting materials"
Water softeners & dm plants resin
Commodity Resins
Polypropylene
High Impact Polystyrene
ABS
HDPE/LDPE
Polystyrene

Epoxy Phenolic Varnishes
Features
Excellent chemical resistance
Excellent insulation Adhesive
Less Shrinkage

Synthetic Resins
Features
High Strength
Water Proof