PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR IMPROVING CONTAMINATION PERFORMANCE OF OUTDOOR HIGH-VOLTAGE CERAMIC INSULATORS

This paper presents an overview of the practices employed by utilities and industries to combat the contamination problem with ceramic insul ators. It emphasizes two popular methods, namely, coating insulators w ith greases and RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanizing) silicone rubber coa tings. The experience to date, application methods, user concerns, cur rent theories on how and why the coatings perform, life expectancy, an d future direction of the technology, are outlined. The paper also des cribes current research activity in the committee on RTV coatings, whi ch is the state of the art in protective coatings.