Insulators

Insulators are materials that prevent the flow of electrical charges due to their high resistivities. They are the opposite of conductors, and are used to separate conductive materials.

Error creating thumbnail: sh: /usr/bin/convert: No such file or directory Error code: 127

A ceramic insulator used on a powerline. Ceramic has a very high resistivity, making it an excellent insulator.

Introduction

An insulator is a material that does not allow electric charges to move freely through it. The property that defines whether a material is an insulator is its resistivity. Insulators have a very high resistivity. Insulators typically have high numbers of mobile electrons as opposed to conductors which have very high amounts of mobile electrons. In fact, the amount of mobile electrons in insulators and conductors are usually many orders of magnitude apart.

Like many things in the real world – there is no such thing as a perfect insulator. A small number of charges will still be able to move, especially when a very high voltage is applied. Insulators are used in electrical equipment to separate conductors and as supports to keep current from flowing where it shouldn’t. In addition, air can be considered an insulator because, in practice, as long as two current carrying wires do not come in contact with one another, electrical current will not pass between them.

Physics

The physics of an insulator really comes down to its resistivity. Resistivity is the intrinsic property that quantifies how strongly a material opposes the flow of electric current. The units for this are Ohm*Meter. The equation to solve for resistivity is: ρ = R(l/A) where R is resistance, l is the length of the material and A is the cross-sectional area. This is done so that the size of the material is taken into account with the resistance. Many objects can claim to have roughly the same resistance, but by taking into the specific dimensions of the material into account we find the resistivity, which is specific to each material.

Testing Resistivity

To test the resistivity of an insulator we need to look at the breakdown voltage. The breakdown voltage of an insulator is the minimum voltage required to make a portion of the insulator become conductive. This is done by creating a weakened path in the material – a permanent physical or molecular change to the material. Basically the voltage gives the electrons enough energy to be excited. Many will use this to test for the maximum amount of voltage a material can withstand prior to it completely collapsing.

Uses

Insulators are prominent when wires are going to be crossing and potentially touching. Because air is an insulator, wires that have no chance of crossing or touching another can potentially be left to be insulated by the air. When wires cross and touch, short circuiting is a very common problem and creates a fire hazard. With wires that are carrying very high voltages, electrocution becomes a concern. Because insulators do not allow current to flow, portions of the electrical wires can be wrapped in an insulator and touch other wires with no hazard.

Examples

Power lines

Typically these high voltage wires are insulated by air. Insulator materials are only used when the wires are connecting to a pole or support. Insulators are also required where these lines enter buildings and electrical centers.

Antennas

Broadcasting antennas are basically a giant high voltage structure. These must be insulated from the ground. They must be protected against lightning. Usually cables are used to break up the voltage and to help prevent short circuiting. Ceramic insulators are commonly used. The insulator is under compression as opposed to the tension that is seen with powerlines.

Different materials that are classified as insulators

•Ceramic

•Acrylic

•Fiberglass

•Glass – used for high voltage

•Neoprene

•Nylon

•Polyester (Mylar)

•Porcelain – used for high voltage

•Silicone Rubber

•Teflon

Types of insulators

•Pin type: These are mounted on a pin at the cross-arm on a pole. These are used for communication cables, and for wires caring voltages up to 33kV. Above this voltage these insulators are not useful. [1]

•Suspension: These are lots of glass discs connected in series with metal links. We use this insulator for voltages higher than 33kV. These are used in power lines. [2]

•Strain: This is the pole that is used when a line is ending or splitting off in a new direction. They are called strain insulators because they have to withstand the lateral load of the long sections of wire. [3]

Connectedness

How is this topic connected to something that you are interested in?

I am really interested in circuits. Many of the other circuits topics were taken, but I do find it very interesting how a material can prevent charges from flowing.

How is it connected to your major?

As a BME we work with many devices that require a current to run through them. If we do not use a good insulator, we run the risk of hurting a patient.

References

Holtzhausen, J.P. "High Voltage Insulators" (PDF). IDC Technologies. Retrieved 2008-10-17.

Grigsby, Leonard L. (2001). The Electric Power Engineering Handbook. USA: CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-8578-4

Bakshi, M (2007). Electrical Power Transmission and Distribution. Technical Publications. ISBN 978-81-8431-271-3.

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-12/insulator-breakdown-voltage/

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/resistivity-conductivity-d_418.html

http://www.techlib.com/reference/insulation.html