A Study on the Hydrophobic Characteristics of Laboratory Prepared Silicone Rubber Insulator Samples with Al2O3 Nano-Filler

Silicone rubber based nano composite insulators are gaining popularity for the use of power transmission and distribution networks. Hence it is important to study the behavior of these technologically new silicone rubber based composite insulators before use, in terms of the severity of environmental contamination levels. Based on the above facts, this study focuses on the analysis of the surface properties of the silicon rubber insulator prepared with alumina (Al
2
O
3
) nano-fillers, under different levels of surface contaminations. The analysis is done on the basis of static contact angle measurement. For this purpose, seven different silicone rubber composite insulator samples have been prepared which differ according to the concentration of alumina nano-fillers. The static contact angles have been measured for all the test samples with five different levels of surface contamination, depending on the equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD). Based on these measurements the surface properties of the test samples has been analyzed.