Effect of chemical composition and alumina content on structure and properties of ceramic insulators

In the present work, six electrical porcelain compositions with different amount of alumina and silica have been prepared and fired in an industrial furnace at 1300 degrees C. Density, porosity, bending strength and electrical strength were measured in the samples. In order to find a relationship between properties and sample microstructures, samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The results showed that, with chemical composition of 53.5 wt.% SiO2 and 37.5 wt.% alumina, highest electrical strength of 21.97 kV/mm was achieved in fabricated electrical porcelains. Increasing amount of alumina up to 30 wt.% decreases quartz and cristobalite phases, but increases corundum phase 3 to 5 times. SEM observation revealed that dense particles and uniform distribution of long and thin needle shaped mullite are predominant in sample microstructures with highest electrical strength.