Solid Dielectric Laboratory

The Insulation Division has comprehensive, testing and evaluation facilities for solid insulating materials and systems. Insulating materials are evaluated and tested for electrical, mechanical, physical and electro-chemical properties. This laboratory has undertaken consultancy work and sponsored projects for different power utilities and industries. Evaluation of class “H” insulation for traction motors, compatibility studies on enamelled winding wires and varnish were two projects completed for RDSO, Ministry of Railways respectively. Assistance has been rendered to BIS, in formulation of various standards on enamelled winding wires and insulating materials & systems.

I. Apparatus/Equipment for Electrical Test

• AC Dielectric Strength/Breakdown Voltage Test apparatus up to 100kVAC
• High resistance meter up to 1016 Ohms
• Insulation Tester (kΩ-GΩ)
• Micro-Ohm Meter (μΩ-mΩ)
• Power frequency capacitance and dissipation factor measuring bridge
• High frequency capacitance and dissipation factor measuring bridges
• Electrometer
• Power frequency capacitance and dissipation factor measuring bridges, NBS smoke box
• High frequency capacitance and dissipation factor measuring bridges.
• Electrometer

II. Apparatus/Equipment for Mechanical Tests

• Micro processor based UTM 50KN (-70℃ to 200℃)
  (Tensile, Compression, Shearing, Flexural/ Cross breaking, Adhesive strengths tests)
• Tear Tester
• Impact Tester/ Stress Cracking Equipment (Izod, Charpy method)

III. Apparatus/Equipment for Electro-chemical Tests

• Automatic Tracking Index Analyzer up to 1000VAC
• Automatic Arc resistance tester
• Liquid contaminant tracking and erosion test equipment
• Weather-O-meter
• Weathering using Fluorescent UV Lamp
• Cyclic Corrosion Test Equipment

IV. Other Facilities

• Environmental Chamber (-40℃ to 180℃)
• Air circulating oven (Up to 250℃)
• Compression Moulding machine (400℃)

Areas of Work :-

• Electrical, mechanical and chemical tests on various solid insulating materials like paper, press board, polymeric moulding materials, Insulating coatings, B-stage epoxy mica, epoxy glass materials etc.,
• Electrical and mechanical tests on conductor, Armour wire etc.
• Almost all tests on enamelled/winding wires including endurance tests
• Electrical tests on cable filling compound, capacitor fluids etc.
• Electrical tests on polypropylene, polyester, kapton, Teflon films
• Electrical tests on antistatic materials
• UV Radiation and Hydrolytic stability tests
• Environmental Conditioning of insulating materials
• Life evaluation studies on insulating materials
• Weather ageing studies
• Corrosion test for galvanized and non galvanized materials