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Home > News & Articles > Electrical Insulator: In Electricity, Definitions, Examples, Properties, Uses, Applications, and Fun Facts
Updated on 19th June, 2023 , 5 min read
Electrical insulators are substances that prevent electrons from freely moving from one particle to another. If any charge is ever transferred to an element, it remains where it was when it first arrived and is not dispersed throughout the surface. Both chargings by rubbing and charging by induction is used to charge these components.
A substance that does not conduct electrical current is known as an "insulator." Air, glass, plastic, paper, and rubber are all insulating materials. Insulation covers most electrical conductors. In order to employ larger wire or more turns in the winding of transformers and other devices, magnet wire is covered with an incredibly thin layer of insulation. Insulator is a broad term that includes both the substance and objects created by it. Various materials, including glass, silicone, rubber, plastic, oil, wood, dry cotton, quartz, ceramic, etc., are used to make them. Insulators have little conductivity and significant electrical resistance. By focusing on the flow, the insulators reduce current loss and increase current efficiency.
A substance known as an "electrical insulator" is one that makes it difficult for electricity to pass through an electric current. Varnish is used in electric motors and transformers. Some switches employ insulating gases like sulfur hexafluoride. Electric currents are often carried through insulated wires to ensure that they reach their intended destination.
The following table gives details about electrical insulators-
|
Details |
Particulars |
|
Some examples |
Rubber, plastic, wood, etc. |
|
Electrical Resistance |
High |
|
Conductivity |
Low |
|
Electric Field |
Absent |
|
Materials possessing property |
Mostly Non-Metals |
|
Free Electrons |
Not present |
|
Types of Insulators and Overhead Lines |
Pin, Strain, and Suspension |
The following are some of examples of electrical insulators-
The majority of nonmetals are good insulators and poor conductors. They lack free electrons that may be used to carry electricity. Greater resistance to the flow of electric current is provided by materials with higher resistivity values, making them better insulators. For instance, copper has a resistivity value of 10⻹² m, and glass has a value of 10¹² m (ohmmeter).
The following are some of the characteristics of an electrical insulator-
Electrical insulators are capable of withstanding electric charges. Based on the operating voltage levels and uses, they may be roughly divided into three categories of electrical insulation, which are as follows-
The ideal support for low-voltage line conductors is a pin insulator. For 11 kV, a single piece of pin insulation is used, and for 25 kV, a double piece. Three or four-pin insulators can be utilized over 44 kV. A porcelain shell covers an electrical insulator. Therefore, an electrical appliance will remain leak-resistant even if its outer surface becomes wet because its inner surface will remain dry.
A tension insulator is another name for a strain insulator. They work best for high voltages in locations with higher stress, such as abrupt bends, river crossings, etc., where the direction of the electrical line may change. It helpsreduce the overly high tension in the line. Electrical insulators with strain have dielectric characteristics. If the tension gets too high, more strings can be added.
High-voltage gearbox lines are best handled by suspension electrical insulators. Porcelain discs are organized within this kind of electrical insulator in a sequence through metal linkages, giving them the impression of being strung together. The placement of insulation is greatly influenced by the weather, voltage, insulation size, etc.
Electrical insulators are often quite helpful in homes, workplaces, streets, etc. Unfortunately, one of the finest conductors of electric charges is human skin. Electrical equipment is also shielded from high voltage generation by the presence of electrical insulator materials. Insulators have a plethora of applications. Below is a list of the uses of electrical insulators-
The following are some of the common uses of electrical insulators-
Electrons cannot move freely between atoms because the electrical insulation materials closely bond them. They thereby prevent electric charges from conducting. Given its advantages, the electrical insulator has a variety of uses. These are used to-
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By - Nikita Parmar 2023-08-25 09:48:44 , 11 min readAns. Electrical insulators are substances that do not permit the flow of electricity through them. Because the atoms in the insulation are closely bound to one another, other materials cannot move freely through it. The insulating property varies according to the material’s resources and structural makeup. Rubber, glass, oil, pure water, wood, plastic, diamond, dry cotton, and dry air are a few of the greatest electrical insulators. These materials aid in preventing any potentially harmful electric current flow activity.
Ans. Styrofoam, wood, glass, rubber, wax, plastic, rubber, and wax.
Ans. Materials that act as insulators prevent the free flow of electric charges through them.
Ans. Appliances used in homes typically have a thick plastic covering that serves as an electrical insulator. It’s because the voltage in these instruments isn’t very high. Insulators made of plastic or porcelain are ideal for withstanding the unrestricted passage of electric currents or charges. However, high voltage is necessary for factories that use large machinery. An electrical insulator made of plastic or porcelain would not work under these circumstances. Due to their high breakdown voltage, glass and mica are more suitable insulators for industrial applications. Glass has a dielectric strength of 2000 to 3000 kV/inch compared to 500 kV/inch for mica, making it suitable for use in high-voltage industrial applications.
Ans. Materials that facilitate the easy flow of electricity through them are known as electrical conductors.
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