Effect of Filler Loading on Tracking and Erosion of Silicone Rubber Based Composites Under DC Voltage

Silicone rubber (SiR) is the most common material used nowadays for composite insulators and as a chosen candidate for outdoor high voltage applications, benefited from their excellent electrical performance. However, SiR also suffered from many drawbacks since electrical properties are becoming the major factors to the failure of insulation. Thus, by varying filler loading also is considered as an alternative way to improve the properties of SiR based composite insulator. In this paper presents the results of erosion weight and inclined plane tracking test for SiR based composite prepared by using different types of fillers. The purpose of using different fillers is to improve the properties of silicone rubber as an insulator which is necessary for good outdoor insulation applications. Calcium carbonate, silica and wollastonite were used as fillers in SiR matrix to enhance the resistance to tracking and erosion. The performances of materials also have been compared by conducting inclined plane tracking (IPT) test. Eroded mass and tracking length were examined to support the result. It is found that CaSiO₃ had proved their ability as good fillers to be integrated with SiR for high voltage insulator by having the utmost number of passing sample.