Insulators - The Most Reliable Material Available for Blocking the Flow of Electricity

About Insulators and Its Product Range: An electrical insulator is a material whose internal electric charges do not flow freely, and therefore does not conduct an electric current under the influence of an electric field. A perfect insulator does not exist, but some materials such as glass, paper and Teflon, which have high resistivity, are very good electrical insulators. A much larger class of materials, even though they may have lower bulk resistivity, are still good enough to insulate electrical wiring and cables. Insulators are used in electrical equipment to support and separate electrical conductors without allowing current through themselves.

An insulating material used in bulk to wrap electrical cables or other equipment is called insulation. The term insulator is also used more specifically to refer to insulating supports used to attach electric power distribution or transmission lines to utility poles and transmission towers. Insulators are commonly used as a flexible coating on electric wire and cable. Since air is an insulator, in principle no other substance is needed to keep power where it should be. High-voltage power lines commonly use just air, since a solid (plastic) coating is impractical. Although wires that touch each other produce cross connections, short circuits, and fire hazards.

In coaxial cable the center conductor must be supported exactly in the middle of the hollow shield in order to prevent EM wave reflections. Finally, wires that expose voltages higher than 60V can cause human shock and electrocution hazards. Insulating coatings help to prevent all of these problems. In high voltage systems containing transformers and capacitors, liquid insulator oil is the typical method used for preventing arcs. The oil replaces air in spaces that must support significant voltage without electrical breakdown. Other high voltage systems insulation materials include ceramic or glass wire holders, gas, vacuum, and simply placing wires enough far apart to use air as insulation.

Known for Best Distributor: ASAP Semiconductor is a leading distributor of Insulator Parts from a variety of manufacturers for various different applications. We are your one-stop shop for any insulators you are looking for, regardless of who manufactures it or what the purpose is. Contact us today and one of our knowledgeable sales staff will assist you.