Compare to porcelain and glass insulators, polymer insulators (or we can call them silicone rubber or composite insulators) are coming up new, though it has developed over 40 years since large scale using in America.
This product is widely used in high voltage power lines and can be used in areas with different pollution levels, it has the characteristics of light weight, small size, not easy to break, high tensile strength and strong pollution performance.
Different types of polymer insulators have different functions, such suspension type and line post type, and the structure height and creepage distance are also different. Polymer insulators have good water repellency, tracking resistance and electrical corrosion resistance, high tensile strength and flexural strength, good shock resistance, light weight and convenient installation.Besides, its installation dimensions of the upper and lower ends can be same as the porcelain/glass insulators according to IEC 60120. So they can be used interchangeably.
Except insulators, the polymer materials are also widely used in fuse cutout and lightning arresters, which has same advantages as in insulator using.