A new silicone plastic protective coating for line hardware

The greater strength, lighter weight and lower cost of reinforced plastic insulator bodies and other line hardware make them extremely desirable from an economic point of view. Unfortunately, all of the polymers, chiefly epoxy and polyester, presently used for this purpose, are subject to degradation when exposed to weathering for extended periods. The result is a deterioration of the insulator surface, loss of surface resistivity, increased current leakage and ultimate flashover to failure.