Example of Insulating Materials

They are called or referred to as insulator to everything that particular object that has the ability to isolate or prevent it from passing from one place to another, any type of physical or chemical property such as heat, sound or electricity. Insulating materials are those objects whose main characteristics are to be highly resistant to the passage of electric current, heat and other properties of bodies.

Properties of insulating materials

The main characteristic of insulating materials, from the point of view of chemical function, is that they have in their behavior of the valence band within the orbit of the electrons, a limited exchange of electrons, which will not pass electricity.

Some of the materials that can function as insulators will, as long as the necessary conditions for that action are present. For example, air can function as an insulator if it is present at room temperature, if it undergoes certain changes in its temperature, it can act as a conductive agent. The same can happen with water, which at certain temperatures can be insulating or conductive.

Classification of insulating materials

Insulating materials belong to two large groups such as inorganic and organic. In the case of inorganic materials we will find marble, which prevents the passage of electric current; We also find in this group insulators with ceramic material.

In the case of organic insulators, in recent years and thanks to the vertiginous advance of the industry and science, high-quality insulators such as plastics have been developed synthetics.

The electrical insulator. This type of insulation is currently the most widely used in the industry. They are applied above all in those elements of the construction that allow to "cover" or protect the electrical installation from the passage of electrical current to the outside.

The specific function of this type of insulator is to prevent the electrical charge from being present outside the circuit itself intended to be the conductor of electricity.

In this way, safety can be guaranteed in facilities where large-scale electrical energy for lighting and functionality to appliances that require energy to they work.

Insulating oil. Another of the most frequently used insulating materials is precisely oil, which is a type of mineral oil that is widely used in the electrical industry since its properties make it allow. Although they are only used in high voltage cables.

Other types of insulators. All materials that limit and protect people and other living beings from electrical currents will be considered insulators, thus avoiding possible fatal damage. They also play the role of preventing overloads that can damage electrical appliances.

The areas in which insulators can be used can be not only in electricity but also in computing, masonry, and other sectors that require it.

Examples of Insulating Materials:

1. Rubber. It is an insulating material that, due to its composition, is ideal in electrical installations, especially due to its dielectric qualities and ease of use in mechanical actions. It turns out to be a flexible handling material and presents a level of resistance that is difficult to break.

2. Expanded polyethylene. It is composed of the raw material obtained from oil. Also, once it has been manufactured and used, it has the ability to be recycled. It is used mainly in the construction sector to apply them to floors and ceilings. This is because it turns out to be one of the most suitable thermal insulators due to its high efficiency in reducing high temperatures.

3. Hemp fiber. Within the industry and use of thermal insulating materials it is one of the little known materials although they are beginning to be used little by little more. Especially because it is a renewable resource, low cost and sustainable. For the manufacture of this type of fiber, hemp is required. One of the benefits of this type of insulation is that its composition does not require any type of additive.

4. Flax fiber. It is produced from the use of flax. It does not require any type of additives and does not generate any type of negative impact on the environment. Among its most important benefits is the fact that it has a high level of thermal conductivity.

5. Dry wood). This material is used in a particular way in light structures and electric power poles in towns. It has the property of being insulating because it contains a series of salts that allow it, as well as a certain humidity. From the point of view of employment, it is known that it was one of the first to be used for these purposes. Besides being a conductive insulator, it also turns out to be ideal for the use of thermal insulator.

6.The plastic. This is one of the best materials that can be found since in addition to being molded to the interests and requirements of its use, it is a material that prevents electrons that are involved in the physical and chemical procedures of materials from being released in the exchange between Yes.

7. Silicate. This type of insulation can be found in two presentations. On the one hand, there is the so-called aluminum silicate that can be found in hard porcelain as a presentation of this material. On the other hand, we have magnesium silicate, which is found in the form of steatite or forsterite, depending on other specific properties.

8. Expanded clay. From the selection of natural clay, it is used in mortars, concretes and other resources used in the construction sector, what allows its use is to improve the capacity of the insulator, for example, from the point of view thermal.

9. Oxide ceramics. It is specifically used as an insulating agent in car spark plugs since it allows to isolate high temperatures generated by the combustion of the car oil, avoiding overheating of the car, leaving it unusable if not that is avoided.

10. Glass. This is known as a type of insulation for both short and medium voltage, since among other things, it prevents moisture from being absorbed. Although this is an important benefit, it should be taken into account that depending on how it is used may become a disadvantage for use as the material is prone to some breaks.

11. Cork. Among its physical qualities we find that it is a light material, which has a low weight and also, It has a density that allows it to be an efficient insulator of other materials in its three states: solid, liquid or gaseous.

12. Eraser. One of the great benefits that we can find in this type of insulation is that it can be very manageable, in fact, it is capable of suffering certain deformations or changes of its original shape preventing it from breaking, this allows it to be adapted to different surfaces to add it to the places that are want. It can work among other things, as an insulator for sound, heat or electricity.

13. Aluminum oxide. It is used as an insulating material in a particular way for the use of fire as well as an insulator for spark plugs.

14. Extruded polyethylene. The manufacturing material is a petroleum derivative, and it turns out to be a material similar to expanded polyethylene. What makes the difference is that the latter also involves the use of a type of gas to function as a foaming agent.

Among its benefits, it shows an important benefit to the resistance of the guide, that is, it helps to protect the surface where this material is installed and prevents the liquid itself from being transmitted and causing certain types of hurt.

15. Polyurethane foam. It is a derivative of petroleum and also due to its composition with gas, it is ideal to be resistant to water. It has a type of insulation capacity that allows it to be optimal even when a minimal layer is used on the surfaces.

16. Rock wool. This is a type of wool composed of minerals. It is ideal to be used as an insulator due to its responsiveness and above all because it is a material that does not turn out to be combustible. It is capable of remaining intact up to temperatures of around 850 ºC.

17. Glass wool. It is a type of mineral-shaped wool that requires a strong amount of energy to achieve an ideal fusion. Fusion is achieved by joining materials such as siliceous sands, quartzites, limestones, and glass. The final product turns out to be a lightweight material that can withstand high temperatures of up to 230 ºC and is a good repellent for water.