PROJECT TITLE :

Investigation into the effects of environmental stresses on RTV-1 silicone-based caulk materials

ABSTRACT:

Single component space temperature vulcanized (RTV-1) caulks are used in a selection of electrical and different applications. In high voltage Non Ceramic Insulators (NCIs) they are used as half of a triple seal system near the metal end-fittings to safeguard insulators against environmental stressors including moisture and acid ingress and salt contamination. In service they need to resist chemical aging for long periods of your time. MacLean Power Systems, Inc. provided 3 RTV-one caulk materials for analysis, of which all three materials maintained their hydrophobicity or increased their hydrophobicity during acid immersion and UV/condensation tests. However, all 3 materials showed vital mass and hydrophobicity loss upon exposure to salt water at elevated temperatures. Our results show that RTV-1 materials perform differently in comparison to Silicon Rubber (SIR) insulator shed materials as reported within the literature when exposed to acid immersion. This is often thanks to the absence of aluminum hydroxide in RTV-one, also referred to as aluminum trihydrate (ATH). Further acid immersion testing was conducted with ATH ensuing in depolymerization of the RTV-one material.