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New Uses for Ceramic Insulators
Ceramic is a unique material because not only does it holdheat for extended periods, it is easy to manufacture and form into a variety ofshapes. In fact, ceramic insulators are so effective, that in manyapplications, if a ceramic insulator is used, there are no other factorsnecessary to keep power where it belongs.
Typical applications for a ceramic insulator is on powerlines, coaxial cable, and circuit boards. The insulators prevent problems likeEM wave reflections, shock to human users, fire hazards, power surges, andshort circuits.
With new technology, comes new uses for ceramic products andinsulators. Electrical components like transistors and ICs, are compatible withthe use of ceramic insulation. Even high voltage products like transformers andcapacitors, air insulation combined with ceramic insulating products providethe ultimate protection and insulation for the product itself and any humanusers.
When compared with other insulation methods, such assilicone, oil, and air alone, ceramic is superior in many ways. Ceramic isdurable and provides better protection than the other methods in most cases.The only drawback to using ceramic is in applications that require a largeamount of flexibility. The stiffness of ceramic makes it unsuitable forflexible applications. However, with computers, cell phones, tablets, and othersmall electronic devices, ceramic insulating products are highly efficient andreliable.
Ceramic Insulators
Ceramic insulators are ceramic materials used to insulate electrically-conductive materials or temperature-controlled enclosures. In the context of electrical insulation, ceramic insulators are usually limited to the insulation of electrically conductive materials on an industrial or municipal scale.
The most easily recognizable ceramic insulators can be found at power substations and on electrical transformers suspended from utility poles. They are called bushings and are usually designed with several conic or circular tiers stacked on top of each other. These tiers are designed to keep water as far away from the center of the bushing as possible; this reduces the number of avenues by which electricity could be conducted in the case of a bushing puncture or fracture. In the context of thermal insulation, ceramic insulators are used to help maintain the temperatures of industrial ovens, art studio kilns and many other kinds of heat-generating equipment. This improves heating process efficiency while simultaneously preventing the unwanted transmission of heat, often in unsafe degrees, into workspaces. Ceramics are often good choices for heat and electrical insulation because of the electrical and thermal non-conductivity of some ceramic varieties.
Ceramics are versatile materials and can be shaped into solid insulation of any shape. Ceramic fibers can also be spun into high temperature insulation “wool.” Ceramic wool is an excellent insulator because it is easily placed around heating enclosures and prevents heat from escaping. Ceramics vary in their electrical and thermal conductivity. Aluminum nitride and silicon carbide, for example, conduct heat well, which does not make them suitable thermal insulators. If either material was used to insulate a heating enclosure, heat generated in the enclosure would be transferred quickly to the insulation and then transferred again to the area outside of the enclosure. Aluminum oxide ceramics are fair thermal insulators and are most effectively employed in low-heat insulation applications. Silicon nitride is better still as an insulator and zirconia is among the most effective ceramic insulators, transmitting very low levels of heat between itself and heating enclosures. Another important property of ceramics related to their capacity as insulators is their low thermal shock susceptibility. Thermal shock susceptibility is the tendency of a material to become damaged when exposed to frequently or quickly changing temperatures. Most ceramics are very thermal shock-resistant.
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Ceramic Insulators – LSP Industrial Ceramics, Inc. | Ceramic Insulators – LSP Industrial Ceramics, Inc. |
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