Research on characterization of RTV silicone rubber/LS (layered silicate) electrical insulation nanocomposites

Presently, the security of power system is seriously threatened by pollution flashover. Room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber has been widely used into coat porcelain insulators to render water repellency to prevent the formation of water filming on the surface and thus to suppress the leakage current and consequently flashover, due to their hydrophobicity and migration of hydrophobicity. However, in order to obtain an increase of service life and better service effect, some properties of RTV silicone rubber (RTVSR) coatings still need to be improved, especially the abilities of mechanics performances. In this paper, nanotechnique is used for the reformation of RTVSR, by which RTVSR/layered silicate nanocomposite is synthesized by means of solution. The mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, elongation at break and adherence grade are theoretically and experimentally analyzed and compared with that of RTV silicone rubber without nano fillers with the help of SEM, FTIR and XRD. The test results prove that layered silicate can be dispersed in the silicone rubber matrix uniformly. Moreover tracking tests and hydrophobicity contact angle test are conducted, and the influences to the electrical parameters such as tan δ, and ρ_v are also found, considering that RTV silicone rubber is a kind of electrical insulation materials.