RTV SILICONE
INSULATOR
COATING
Silicone Insulator Coatings provide a near maintenance free
system, that prevents excessive leakage current, tracking
and Flashovers.
ELIMINATES:
Regular insulator washing.
Application, removal and re-application of greases.
Replacement of T&D components damaged by flashovers.
Silicone polymers offer excellent
hydrophobicity, limiting leakage
current and preventing flashovers.
Contaminants which usually cause
flashovers are encapsulated by a
thin film of naturally released silicone
oil and washed away by a light
wetting.
Features:
Excellent dielectric
properties.
Flexibility over a wide
temperature range.
Excellent resistance to UV
radiation, thermal
degradation and corona
discharge.
Role of Fluid in RTV Silicone
Rubber Coatings
Leakage Contaminant
current
P
o
r
c Rain
e
l
a
i
n
Silicone RTV Silicone Oil
Role of Fluid in RTV Silicone
Rubber Coatings
Leakage Contaminant
current
As the rain washes the
P old layer of contaminated
o silicone, the coating begins
r to regenerate a new layer of
c oil to encapsulate any
e further contamination.
l
a
i Rain
n
Silicone RTV Silicone Oil
Role of Fluid in RTV Silicone
Rubber Coatings
Recovery of silicone oil (usually between 12 to 48 hours)
P
o
r
c
e
l
a
i
n
Silicone RTV Silicone Oil
Test Results of Hydrophobicity
recovery at CPRI
Hydrophobicity
Hydrophobicity Tested
Classification
(CPRI Labs)
(HC level as per STRI)
Virgin Sample HC1
After 100-hours continuous
HC6
exposure to Contamination
Recovery within 48 hours of
HC2
Contamination Destruction
STRI Classifications
HC Description
Only discrete droplets formed.
HC1 Ør~~80 (or larger) for majority of
droplets
Only discrete droplets formed.
HC2 20°<Ør<50° for the majority of
droplets.
Only discrete droplets formed.
20°< Ør<50° for majority of
HC3 droplets.
Usually they are no longer
circular
Wetted areas cover > 90%
HC6 small un-wetted areas still
observed
HC7 Continuous water film
Restoration of Flashed Insulators
RTV Silicone Insulator
Coatings have been
successfully used throughout
India, Central and South
America to restore flashed
insulators for reuse in the
field. Once examined to
ensure no major damage
insulators can be coated and
reinstalled on the system.
Saving the utilities large
amounts of money.
Use of Other Non Silicone
Products
There have been companies in the USA that
have experimented with different varieties of
coating to prevent flashovers. The issue with
these coatings are that many do not repel water
and allow the water to shed across the skirts of
the insulator carrying the contamint and leakage
to ground creating a flashover.
Also many of these coatings are not
manufactured to handled the harsh outside
environment and deteriorate rapidly.
How to determine when COATING
is near the end of its Lifecycle
P As the coating begins to approach
o the end of its lifecycle, it begins a
r process known as Depolymerization.
c
e Deploymerization, is the drying up of
l the silicone oil, which in turn causes
a the coating to lose its hydrophobicity.
i Once hydrophobicity is lost the insulator
n will then become exposed to contaminates
which can lead to Flashover.
Longevity of a coating is mainly
determined by hydrophobicity.
Depolymerization,
zero hydrophobicity
Long-Term Lower Cost
On a one-time basis in a typical installation, water washing is usually the least
expensive protection against pollution-induced flashovers. However water
washing needs to be repeated regularly, usually 2 to 3 times a year
Material/labor costs to water wash one 69kV insulator one time: $28*
Material and labor costs to coat one 69kV insulator with RTV
Silicone HVIC: $110*
Water washing is repeated every three to six months
RTV Silicone HVIC anticipated life for this example: 10+ years
* Prices are estimates given by various utilities.
Cost Comparison
