5 Facts on Ceramic as an Insulator (Why and Uses)

Ceramics is a substance that is brittle and hard. In this post, let us investigate if ceramic functions as an electric insulator or conductor.

Ceramics is an insulator in its natural form. That is a non-conductive insulator formed of permeable clay that is brown, red, or white that performs as a partition between electrolytic capacitors.

The fact that ceramic is an insulator of heat and electricity, its use as an insulator, when and how ceramic can conduct electrical current, and the wider context will be further covered in detail.

Why is ceramic a good electric insulator?

Porcelain, earthenware, and stoneware are the three primary categories of ceramics. Let us discuss why ceramic is a good electrical insulator.

Ceramic is a good electric insulator because the incredibly small amount of wasted unpaired electrons in ceramic makes it unsuitable for generating power. Extraordinarily powerful electron interactions maintain the atoms of the ceramic adherent.

Ceramic fractured SEM.TIF
Image – Ceramic;
Image Credit – Wikipedia

These electrons cannot be exchanged for or utilized by the ions to move about freely. In the picture, A low magnification Scanning electron microscope micrograph of advanced ceramic material. The properties of ceramics make fracturing an important inspection method.

Is ceramic a good heat insulator?

Superior insulation qualities due to the lack of electron fluxes, matter is less conductive. Let us investigate whether ceramic makes a decent heat insulator.

Ceramic is a good heat insulator as they can withstand high temperatures by holding the heat without transferring the flow. They act as excellent thermal barriers in space by pasting as liners in space shuttle.

Suspension, Strain, Pin, Stay, and Shackle insulators are just a few of the five categories that are used to categorize ceramic insulators.

Properties of ceramics

  • The thickness of the ceramic is between 0.5 mm to 1.6 mm and approximately 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm space available for veneering ceramic.
  • At normal room temperature, the density of the ceramic is 6 grams per cubic centimeter.
  • The melting point or softening point of the ceramic is 2000 degree centigrade to 840-degree centigrade.
  • The compressive strength of the ceramic is 1500 MPa to 3000 MPa.
  • The average thermal conductivity of the ceramic is 5.077 W/m.k.
  • The heat transfer coefficient for the ceramic is between 430 W/ (m2k) and 560 W/ (m2k).
  • The dielectric strength for the ceramic is 15 kV/cm.
  • The specific heat for the insulator of ceramic at 35-degree centigrade is between 0.0323 and 0.326 J/kg/K.
  • Modulus of elasticity for the ceramic is 393 GPa.
  • The tensile strength for the ceramic is 260 MPa to 300 MPa.

Uses of ceramic as an insulator

The ratio of puncture strength to flashover voltage can be used to show the safety factor of an insulator. Let us talk about how ceramic can be used as an insulator.

  • Spark plug
  • Wire support
  • Pole
  • Safety
  • Low voltage distribution
  • Furnace
  • Ceramic Oven or Kiln
  • Ceramic Heater

Spark plug

The spark plug is a fairly straightforward device that performs a number of crucial but distinct tasks. First and foremost, it essentially produces a fake lightning strike inside the engine’s cylinder head, or combustion chamber. The spark plug voltage can range from 20,000 to over 100,000 volts.

Wire support

Ceramic mechanical tension insulators are intended for usage in scenarios where cables or wires dangling from the ceiling pull on the insulator. They serve the same purpose as support ceramic insulators for overhead wires, radio antennae, and power lines.

Pole

Wires on utility or phone poles are supported by ceramic insulators. Ceramic wire support insulators feature an umbrella-like shape to shield the lowest portion of the insulator and the wires from snow and rain.

Safety

Insulators’ primary function is to regulate current flow and stop it from traveling toward the earth. If wires are cut and fall to the ground, safety ceramic insulators remain in place and provide insulation. They are positioned in a way that ensures wires won’t come into contact with the earth.

Low voltage distribution

A low-voltage network, typically called to as a secondary network, transfers power from power transformer to end users’ electrical meters throughout the distribution process. Secondary networks are run at low voltage levels, that are usually equivalent to the mains voltage of electrical equipment.

Furnace

A furnace is a device that sends heat and transfers it to materials in order to change their physical and chemical properties. Typically, heat is produced through the combustion of solid, liquid, gaseous fuels or by the application of electrical energy via resistance heating or inductive heating.

Ceramic oven or Kiln

A kiln is a sort of thermally insulated oven that generates temperatures high enough to finish certain processes, such hardening, drying, or chemical alterations. For thousands of years, clay artefacts have been transformed into pottery, tiles, and bricks using kilns.

Ceramic Heater

Ceramic heaters are electric heaters that work on the resistivity heating concept and have a ceramic heating element with a positive temperature coefficient. Ceramic materials have enough thermal conductivity and electrical resistance to produce and conduct heat as current passes through them.

When does ceramic conduct electricity?

Oven linings are made of ceramic. Let us examine the electrical conductivity of ceramic.

  • Ceramics as excellent electronic carriers as they form overlapping energy bands if mixed in semi-metals like lead oxide, ruthenium oxide, bismuth.
  • Electricity can pass to ceramic when a high enough voltage is supplied to the ceramic, which gains a significant amount of energy to liberate electrons.

The ceramic has a very high dielectric strength and therefore can lose electricity at specific energies.

Conclusion

We can conclude from this article that ceramic is a good thermal and electrical insulator in its natural form. But certain types of cermaics conducts electricity and have high conductivities. This article discusses the properties of ceramic, how it acts as an insulator, ceramic applications, and other topics related to the topic of ceramic.

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