ROUND-ROBIN TESTING OF RTV SILICONE-RUBBER COATINGS FOR OUTDOOR INSULATION

This paper presents the results of round robin tests performed to eval uate the electrical performance of Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV) silicone rubber coatings used for improving the contamination performa nce of outdoor ceramic insulators. The tests, performed in six differe nt laboratories, included several salt-fog chambers and a tracking whe el. Most test facilities were equipped with an on-line data acquisitio n system for measurement of leakage current activity. Four generic for mulations of RTV silicone rubber coatings applied on ceramic rods were evaluated. The results indicate a general consensus in the ranking of the coatings' leakage current suppression capability, despite the var iation in the experimental conditions employed. This suggests that gui delines for a laboratory, test for evaluating the RTV coating material 's electrical performance under contaminated conditions could be devel oped.