Use of expanded polystyrene in increasing hydrophobicity in ceramic electrical insulators in transmission lines

The deposition of dirt on ceramic electrical insulators (CEI) can induce the appearance of a leakage current, causing drops in the electric transmission lines. This work aims at the deposition of hydrophobic polymer films capable of avoiding the formation of conductive surfaces on the CEI (Figure 1 (e)). This coating seeks to reduce maintenance costs of transmission lines, as well as the use of scrap polymer material, expanded polystyrene (EPS). lt was used 0.1 g of EPS solubilized in 10 ml of THF, acetone / cyclohexane (7:3), chloroform and toluene to obtain the hydrophobic resin. The solution was deposited using a drip technique (Pasteur pipette) on the CEI. The film was oven dried at 80 ºC for 15 minutes. The contact angle was measured using a Kruss GMBH goniometer.This procedure was repeated using EPS resin doped with 2.2% magnesium stearate by mass. lt was observed that the contact angle for the coated samples was higher than that observed for the uncoated sample and coated by commercial products (Table 1 ). The best result observed was the Chloroform + Mg 2.2% sample, which presented an angle of 119.21°. These results indicate that doped EPS resins are efficient in obtaining hydrophobic surfaces. Future tests should show if they will be efficient in reducing CEI leakage current.