Performance evaluation of ABS (Acrylo-Nitrile-Butadiene Styrene) as high voltage insulator in the outdoor environment

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a thermo plastic material which is widely used for making bodies of countless electrical and medical appliances. It is low cost amorphous thermoplastic which belongs to poly styrene class of thermoplastics. It has very high tensile strength and almost unbreakable. It is a beneficial encapsulating and insulating material which is usually employed for indoor insulation and encapsulation purposes. A very little literature is reported on its performance when used in outdoor environment. In present work, ABS was molded into 11kV distribution class insulator and aged under several mechanical and electrical stresses in severe environmental conditions simulating outdoor environment according to IEC 1109 5000h aging standards. The aim of this study is to investigate the scope of using ABS for making outdoor insulators since it is a low cost material. Results show that this study is particularly useful for the researchers worldwide.