Future insulating materials

Thermosetting poly(ester-imide)s have been known for more than 35 years and are a class of mature polymers. Good thermal and mechanical properties, easy processing and acceptable prices are the reasons for the large tonnage of this polymers used as electrical insulating materials world-wide. A replacement by other polymers in this application field is unrealistic for now and the near future. 

E. Solorzano, M.A. Rodriguez-Perez, Polymer foams, in M. Busse et al. (Ed.), Structural Materials and Processes in Transportation, WUey-VCH, Weinheim, Germany, 2013. A.M. Papadopoulos, State of the art in thermal insulation materials and aims for future developments. Energy and Buildings 37 (1) (2005) 77-86. 

New Polymers and Other Modes of Deformation.—Three relatively new polymers have become available recently poly (ether ketones), poly (ether ether ketones) and poly(ether sulphones). Poly(ether ether ketones), (PEEK), have good electrical insulating properties and very good abrasion resistance. This combination makes the polymer an attractive coating for electrical conductors. The same polymer is also attractive as a load bearing material for moving parts. Poly(phenylene sulphide) continues to be developed for this purpose but the PEEKS are much simpler to fabricate. Linear low-density polyethylenes are expected to be widely available in the near future. These materials have many attractive features, particularly as packaging materials. 

Green fibres like flax, jute, sisal, kenaf and fibres of allied plants, which have been used for more than 8000 years, are the present and will be the future raw materials not only for the textile industry but also for modern eco-friendly composites used in different areas of application like building materials, particle boards, insulation boards, food, fodder and nourishment, friendly cosmetics, medicine and source for other bio-polymers agro-fine chemicals and energy . Potentially, under optimum cultivation conditions, they cause little or no detrimental effect on the ecosystem, they can grow in different climatic zones and they recycle the carbon dioxide in the Earth s atmosphere. 

Insulator materials and configurations, which may be tailored to the given application, are the basis for future research in this area. Since traditional AC dielectrophoresis requires precise metallization of embedded electrodes, a DC dielectrophoretic approach eliminates this time consuming and expensive process. This will facilitate rapid... 

Papadopoulos AM. State of the art in thermal insulation materials and aims for future developments. Energ Build 2005 37 77. 

Jelle, B.P. (2011) Traditional, state-of-the-art and future thermal building insulation materials and solutions properties, requirements and possibilities. Energy Build., 43, 2549-2563. 

In power transformer manufacture the case of paper insulation and oil used in combination is well established. Both materials can be operated safely at the same maximum temperature (105°C) and this combination of use seems unlikely to be phased out in the near future. 

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