Silicone, primarily polymerized from siloxanes, is a widely used elastomer material. From an electrical performance perspective, silicone primarily exhibits insulating properties rather than conductive ones. This is because its internal chemical bonds are mainly non-polar covalent bonds, a bond structure that makes silicone poorly conductive. Under normal conditions, pure silicone is a fairly good electrical insulator.
The internal structure of silicone rubber insulators has a significant impact on their insulating performance. The main chain of silicone rubber molecules consists of a polymer composed of regularly arranged silicon-oxygen chains. The Si-O-Si and O-Si-O bond angles are relatively large, resulting in a helical structure for the entire chain. This unique structure causes the polarity of the Si-O bonds to cancel each other out, thus enhancing the material's insulating properties. Furthermore, connecting the outer side of the main chain are small, non-polar hydroxyl groups (mainly methyl groups) with low surface energy and free organosilicon oligomers. These groups have considerable rotational freedom around the Si-O bond axis, further shielding the polarity of the Si-O bonds.
Silicone rubber possesses excellent insulating properties, with an insulation strength exceeding 1000V/mm, making it a superior electrical insulating material. Even in harsh environments such as high temperature, high humidity, strong acids, and strong alkalis, silicone rubber maintains its excellent insulating effect. Therefore, it is widely used in the electronics and electrical fields as an insulating material for electrical equipment such as power electronic devices, high-voltage electrical appliances, power cables, transformers, and motors.
In summary, silicone rubber, as an elastomer primarily composed of siloxanes, exhibits significant insulating properties. Its excellent insulating performance and stability under various harsh environments make it a promising candidate for applications in electronics and electrical engineering. Furthermore, the unique internal structure of silicone rubber insulators further enhances its insulating properties, providing strong protection for the safe operation of electrical equipment.
