The Application of Silicone Rubber in the Field of Power Insulation

In modern power systems, ensuring the stable transmission of electricity and the safe operation of equipment is of utmost importance, which largely depends on high - quality insulating materials. With its excellent electrical properties, good physical characteristics, and stable chemical properties, silicone rubber plays a pivotal role in the field of power insulation. In terms of high - voltage transmission lines, silicone rubber insulators are commonly used key components. Compared with traditional ceramic insulators, silicone rubber insulators have numerous advantages. They are lightweight, facilitating installation and maintenance, and greatly reducing the difficulty and risk of high - altitude operations. At the same time, silicone rubber has outstanding anti - pollution flashover performance. In some areas with severe pollution, such as industrial - intensive areas or coastal salt - fog environments, the surface of traditional insulators is prone to dirt accumulation. Under humid conditions, flashover phenomena may occur, affecting the safety of power transmission. However, the surface of silicone rubber insulators has hydrophobicity, which can effectively prevent water from forming a continuous water film on its surface, thus reducing the possibility of pollution flashover and ensuring the reliable operation of high - voltage transmission lines in harsh environments. Silicone rubber also plays an important role in substations. For example, at the cable terminations and intermediate joints in substations, insulating seals made of silicone rubber are usually used. These seals can tightly wrap the cable connection parts, preventing the intrusion of moisture, dust, and other impurities, and avoiding a decline in insulation performance due to moisture or contamination. The good flexibility of silicone rubber enables it to adapt to cable connections of different shapes and sizes, ensuring the reliability of the seal. In addition, the aging resistance of silicone rubber is also remarkable. It can maintain stable insulation performance under long - term electrical, thermal, and mechanical stresses, extending the service life of cable connection parts. In the internal insulation of power equipment, silicone rubber insulating coatings have been widely applied. This type of coating can be directly applied to parts such as the metal casings and circuit boards of electrical equipment, forming a uniform and dense insulating protective film. Silicone rubber insulating coatings not only have good electrical insulation properties, effectively isolating live parts from the outside and preventing electric leakage accidents, but also possess certain chemical corrosion resistance and high - temperature resistance. In some special environments, such as substations of chemical enterprises with corrosive gases or power equipment with high operating temperatures, silicone rubber insulating coatings can protect the internal insulation structure of the equipment, ensuring its normal operation. In conclusion, silicone rubber, with its excellent performance in anti - pollution flashover, sealing, and insulation protection, has become an indispensable material in the field of power insulation. With the continuous development of the power industry and the increasing requirements for the reliability and stability of the power grid, the application prospects of silicone rubber in the field of power insulation will be even broader, promising to provide more solid guarantees for the safe and stable operation of power systems.


Silicone Rubber for ultra-high voltage cable