Formulation Testing/Material Characterization
Polymer insulating materials are typically formulated to provide performance characteristics equivalent to, or better than that of porcelain. Because of the different physical properties of porcelain and polymers, a comparison is usually made only on short term electrical characteristics of complete insulators - e.g. wet and dry 60 Hz flashover, critical impulse flashover. However, many physical properties of a polymer material must be understood and properly controlled to give the material the characteristics necessary to serve a long life as a high voltage insulating polymer.