ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION EFFECT ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ELECTRICAL INSULATOR BODY FORMED USING LOCAL IRAQI MATERIAL

Ceramic Electrical Insulator body was prepared using Iraqi local materials. These are kaolin Duakhla, Arudhuma Sand glass and potash feldspar with weight percentage (45%, 25%,30%)respectively, of controlled particle size distribution. Chemical and Heat treatment was performed on kaolin duakhla, Arudhuma Sand glass as a first step. Followed by milling, classification, mixing, forming and firing, through the process of mixing electrolyte solution and mineralizer were added at different concentration for electrolyte solution, (1%, 0.7%, 0.5%, 0.2%, and 0.1%). The electrolyte solution was prepared by mixing sodium carbonate and sodium silicate by (2:1) ratio, while the mineralizer, Zinc Oxide, was added at fixed weight percentage. The measurements were under taken on disk sample burnt at firing temperatures of (1250, 1300, 1350) o C. The Conclusion behind these study were the optimum properties obtained , by adding 2% weigh percentage of zinc oxide, and using (0.2 – 0.5)electrolyte solution concentration, gives good mechanical , thermal and dielectric properties. These results related in some what, to the cation exchange property of local clay which controls the surface charge of clay. Keyword: Electrical insulator, Electrolyte solution , Physical properties Introduction Ceramic insulators (more commonly, porcelain insulator) occupy vital area of these fields; porcelain is the material which was made of mixture of various white – burning clays and fluxes of such nature and in such properties as will produce a dense and vitrous body [1]. Electrical porcelains: are chiefly used in insulators and other parts of the electrical applications at ultra high frequencies to specialized problems of direct current; from low to high voltage [1, 2]. This study, concern with the effect of electrolyte solution on dielectric, mechanical and thermal properties for porcelain body prepared from local materials. Theoretical Part Electrolytes, dissolved and particulate organic matter, and inorganic particulates, comprised of clays, quartz, carbonates, and a variety of metal oxides [3]. Thermal movement and Colloidal particles when suspended in water are charged and are surrounded by a water shell. The molecules of water within this shell are rigidly held by particle and have a different character and properties from those in the remainder of the dispersion medium [1]. When a charged colloidal particle is immersed in an electrolyte solution, it is surrounded by counterions–i.e.; small ions of opposite sign–to balance the surface charge. The charged colloidal surface along with the neutralizing diffuse layer of counterions is often referred to as the electric double layer EDL, which plays an important role in many aspects of interfacial phenomena [4]. Clay minerals have the property of sorting certain anions and cations, retaining these in an exchangeable state; i.e. they are exchangeable for other anions or cations by treatment with such ions in a water solution (the exchange reaction also take place sometimes in anon aqueous environment). The exchangeable ions are held around the outside of silica– alumina clay mineral structural units, and the exchange reaction generally does not affect the structure of silica–alumina clay