ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION EFFECT ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ELECTRICAL INSULATOR BODY FORMED USING LOCAL IRAQI MATERIAL

Ceramic Electrical Insulator body was prepared using Iraqi local materials. These are kaolin Duakhla, Arudhuma Sand glass and potash feldspar with weight percentage (45%, 25%,30%)respectively, of controlled particle size distribution. Chemical and Heat treatment was performed on kaolin duakhla, Arudhuma Sand glass as a first step. Followed by milling, classification, mixing, forming and firing, through the process of mixing electrolyte solution and mineralizer were added at different concentration for electrolyte solution, (1%, 0.7%, 0.5%, 0.2%, and 0.1%). The electrolyte solution was prepared by mixing sodium carbonate and sodium silicate by (2:1) ratio, while the mineralizer, Zinc Oxide, was added at fixed weight percentage. The measurements were under taken on disk sample burnt at firing temperatures of (1250, 1300, 1350) oC. The Conclusion behind these study were the optimum properties obtained , by adding 2% weigh percentage of zinc oxide, and using (0.2 – 0.5)electrolyte solution concentration, gives good mechanical , thermal and dielectric properties. These results related in some what, to the cation exchange property of local clay which controls the surface charge of clay