UV-Resistant Silicone Rubber With Low Water Absorption for Insulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Silicone rubber materials used in composite insulators suffer from high water absorption and poor ultraviolet (UV) aging resistance, leading to reduced service life and performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A preparation method involving specific pH adjustments and treatments with titanium dioxide and fumed silica solutions, coupled with additional components like glyceryl monostearate and coupling agents, results in a silicone rubber with enhanced UV aging resistance and low water absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silicone rubber is used in composite insulators for outdoor application, then it provides good resistance to high and low temperatures, ozone and mold, but it suffers from poor UV aging resistance and high water absorption leading to reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hydrophobic agents (such as fluorinated compounds or silane-based hydrophobic modifiers) as intermediary substances that modify the surface properties of silicone rubber. These hydrophobic agents form a protective layer on the rubber surface that repels water and reduces moisture absorption, while also providing UV shielding to prevent photo-oxidative degradation of the polymer chains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining silicone rubber base polymer with hydrophobic modifiers and UV stabilizers. This composite structure integrates the inherent temperature and ozone resistance of silicone rubber with the water-repellent and UV-blocking properties of the added components, achieving multi-functional protection against environmental aging factors.
2Reliability
If silicone rubber absorbs moisture from the environment, then dielectric parameters increase leading to severe heating under high electric fields, but the patent aims to reduce water absorption
Solution Approach 1:
Hydrophobic agents serve as intermediary substances that create a water-repelling barrier on the silicone rubber surface. This barrier prevents environmental moisture from penetrating into the rubber matrix, thereby maintaining low water absorption and stable dielectric parameters even in high-humidity conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface energy and hydrophobicity parameters of silicone rubber by incorporating hydrophobic modifiers. This parameter change transforms the surface from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, fundamentally altering its interaction with water molecules and reducing moisture absorption capacity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If UV light causes photo-oxidative degradation breaking Si-C and C-H bonds, then molecular chains break and moisture invades the insulator core, but the patent aims to improve UV resistance
Solution Approach 1:
UV absorbers and hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) act as intermediary substances that intercept UV radiation and free radicals before they can attack the silicone rubber molecular chains. These stabilizers absorb UV energy or neutralize reactive oxygen species, preventing photo-oxidative degradation of Si-C and C-H bonds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates UV stabilizers and antioxidants in advance into the silicone rubber formulation to provide preemptive protection. These additives are distributed throughout the matrix before aging exposure, creating a protective system that cushions against upcoming UV damage and delays the onset of molecular chain degradation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The silicone rubber exhibits superior mechanical properties, high heat-resistance, and low water absorption, significantly improving the performance and longevity of composite insulators and jackets for electrical equipment.
Implementation Method 1
mixing a titanium dioxide solution and 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (also referred to as a coupling agent KH570) to obtain a first mixture, performing a first reflux heating treatment on the first mixture to obtain intermediate modified titanium dioxide
Implementation Method 2
performing a first contact treatment on the intermediate modified titanium dioxide and glyceryl monostearate to obtain modified titanium dioxide
Implementation Method 3
vulcanizing the pre-vulcanized silicone rubber with a vulcanizing agent to obtain the silicone rubber with UV aging resistance and low water absorption
Implementation Method 4
performing a second contact treatment on the intermediate modified fumed silica and glyceryl monostearate to obtain modified fumed silica
Data Source
AI summary
A silicone rubber with UV aging resistance and low water absorption and its preparation method and application are provided. The preparation method uses a coupling agent KH570 and glyceryl monostearate to perform modified treatment on titanium dioxide to obtain modified titanium dioxide, uses a surface-modified coupling agent A171 and glyceryl monostearate to perform modified treatment on fumed silica to obtain modified fumed silica, and further performs subsequent treatment on methyl vinyl siloxane raw rubber, silicone oil, aluminum hydroxide, the modified fumed silica, the modified titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, α-alumina, a coupling agent KH560, a defoamer, iron oxide and a vulcanizing agent to obtain the silicone rubber. The silicone rubber prepared by the preparation method has low water absorption and excellent aging resistance, and its mechanical and electrical properties are also superior.