Electrical Insulation

 

 

ASG offers a wide range of non-metallic materials from a number of material manufacturers and suppliers, some of which are needed for specific applications. One such range on offer from our vast catalogue is electrical insulation materials, which consists of a varied choice of material types each with its own unique properties to meet particular application demands. Each type of electrical insulation material is manufactured in various roll or sheet sizes and thicknesses as standard, however as we carry out all our conversion on-site, we can convert these into a range of finished products including washers, gaskets, pads or strips, many of which can be supplied plain or laminated with one of many self-adhesives or foils.

What are Electrical Insulation Materials?

Electrical insulation materials are used to restrict the flow of electric current, by supporting electrical conductors – without allowing the current to pass through.  These materials are usually pre-manufactured in standard sheet and roll sizes and thicknesses (dimensions will vary depending on the material),  which means they can be dispatched within a minimal lead time as they generally do not need to be cut down from blocks or rolls.  They are available with a range of properties and characteristics each designed for specific applications such as high temperatures, or different levels of electrical strength, etc.

Why use Electrical Insulation Materials?

Electrical insulation materials and products produced from them are used to provide a barrier to restrict the flow of electrical current, protecting electrical conductors from coming into contact with people or tools during installation, repairs or when an electrical appliance or device is being used. Electrical insulation materials also prevent electrical arcing (electrical current flows through the air between two conductors, as a result of the electrical breakdown of a gas that produces an ongoing electrical discharge) and are used in other electrical insulation applications.

Types of Electrical Insulation Materials  Available 

Advanced Seals & Gaskets work with a multitude of material manufacturers, giving our customers more choice and ensuring we can offer a solution to just about any application, our most popular electrical insulation materials include:

Epoxy Glass – a green coloured material with good mechanical strength, good chemical, electrical and radiation resistance, low moisture absorption and a working temperature range of up to +120℃.

Kapton – is a polyamide film that offers a combination of mechanical and tears strength along with chemical, electrical and thermal properties that enables the gasket to withstand vibration and extreme temperatures in demanding environments. 

Leatheroid – is a grey/blue coloured paper gasket material, also sometimes called Elephantide.  This material is used within the electrical industry to insulate hot elements.

MICA – is a mineral-based sheeting material that has excellent mechanical performances, is resistant to chemicals and provides electrical and therm insulation.  MICA gaskets are often used to replace asbestos as they can withstand extremely high temperatures of up to 1000℃.  

MYLAR is an extremely strong, flexible polyester film.  MYLAR is an excellent insulation material with dielectric strength, moisture resistance and is an excellent insulation material.

Nomex can be manufactured using Nomex paper or Nomex board, it can withstand high temperatures, has high mechanical and dielectric strength, and is an excellent insulation material for all kinds of electrical equipment and applications.

Presspahn is a brown coloured material,  manufactured using kraft wood pulp.  Presspahn sheets have excellent physical and mechanical properties, generally used as electrical insulation.

SRBF is resin bonded fibre material that is tough and rigid, with an operating temperature of 120℃, low water absorption and is resistant to wear, impact chemicals.

SRBP (synthetic resin bonded paper) is manufactured using layers of paper and synthetic resins.  This material is suited to high and medium voltage application.  SRBP has good mechanical and excellent electrical insulation properties, with low water absorption.

Valox is an excellent electrical insulation material that also offers flame retardant properties.

PTFE is a non-conductive plastic material used to produce electrical insulation sheets.  PTFE sheets are suitable for high-temperature applications and have a high melting temperature.  This material has excellent dielectric properties and can be often found used in circuit boards.

PVC is a tough, lightweight abrasion, chemical and moisture resistant material which has good dielectric strength making it a great material to use for electrical insulation applications.

Benefits of using Electrical Insulation Materials

Advanced Seals & Gaskets Ltd offer electrical insulation in a range of materials types, grades, thicknesses, colours and finishes. Each material will provide insulation within certain applications and suitable for various levels of protection required.  Some of the materials listed above are available in variants that can offer additional properties such as flame retardancy and higher chemical or temperature resistance for use in the most extreme environments. For further information on each material or to discuss with type that is most suited to your application, please give a member of our sales team a call, and they will be happy to help.