•   Study of the Behavior of Silicon Insulators with Different Loads,
    Tested on a Tracking Wheel
•   Inter- laboratorial Evaluation of Electrical Tracking Testing and Erosion Applied to
    Silicon Compositions which are Applied to Electrical Insulation, According to Standard
    NBR 10296

In the search for improvement in product performance, Balestro carried out a study to analyze the behavior of polymeric insulators. Today it is the consensus that silicon compositions are the most suitable to work under severe environmental conditions and, in the search for continuous improvement of those results, we conducted a study with different formulations of these compositions by modifying the concentration of inorganic loads.

In this work, it was observed that different formulations with modifications in quantities of loads presented different performances in the tracking wheel testing. This behavior can be attributed to subtle modifications in the properties of the composition, such as hydrophobicity, resistance to electrochemical decomposition and to UV radiation.

The structure and chemical nature of the polymeric composition together with the environmental characteristics of the situation in which the composition is submitted determine the insulating performance and the longevity of both the composition and the manufactured equipment. It is concluded that different polymeric compositions may present different performances when installed in similar environments. In the same way, identical compositions may present different behavior when installed in areas with different levels of aggression. In both situations it can result in performances below expectations.

With this work Balestro tried to clarify, using the tracking wheel testing, how the change in the amount of inorganic loads interferes in the resistance properties to the electric and chemical degeneration of the silicon compositions and, consequently, the final performance of the product in areas of high contamination.

The recognition of these efforts was obtained with the acceptance and presentation of this work in a lecture given at the First International Cuban Congress of Electrical Engineering, which was considered the best work in its category in the same event. Besides this work, it was also recommended for publication in a scientific electrical journal. The actual work demonstrates the concern and investment that Balestro dedicates to improve their products demonstrating to their customers, collaborators, researchers and professionals in the electrical sector that not all polymeric compositions are the same.

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In last decade, polymeric materials became a reality in the electrical sector. With the purpose of improve the insulation in electrical power-lines, polymers started to be thoroughly applied and their use was consolidated over the years. This new reality generated concern for the risks associated with this new technology and its performance.

Focusing on the evaluation and analysis of the durability of polymeric products as well the extrapolation of performance information of this material applied, Balestro coordinated an inter-laboratorial work of electrical tracking testing for a short period (This test was standardized through: IEC 60587, NBR 10296 or ASTM D2303). Evaluate the methodology of the tracking testing over a short period when applied in silicon compositions used in insulating covering of electrical equipment for power-lines was the mainly work's propose.

The actual work allowed us to get to know more details about the typical behavior of the silicon through this test and to promote debates based on the results obtained by reliable testing conducted by different laboratories in different segments of the electrical sector. Such discussions form a base and inspire future and probable revisions related to this silicon composition testing.

The recognition of this joint study was achieved through the acceptance and presentation of this work in a lecture given in the First International Cuban Congress of Electrical Engineering, which was considered the best work in its category in the same event. Besides this work, it was also recommended for publication in a scientific electrical journal. This inter-laboratorial work is just a small sample of Balestro's dedication in the search for the expansion of knowledge and technological development in the electrical sector and of material in association with their partners and collaborators.

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