Erosion Resistance Evaluation and Material Selection of Silicone Rubber for Composite Insulators in Desert-Gobi Regions
Geng Jianghai1, Qu Huanlong1, Wang Ping1, Tian Zhengbo2, Zhang Rui3
1. Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment Security Defense North China Electric Power University Baoding 071003 China; 2. Xiangyang State Grid Composite Insulators Co. Ltd Xiangyang 441000 China; 3. China Electric Power Research Institute Wuhan 430074 China
Abstract：The composite insulators of transmission lines in the desert, Gobi, and wilderness regions of Northwest China are subjected to erosion wear from high-speed moving sand particles, making them highly susceptible to material damage and performance degradation. These issues can lead to tripping faults in transmission lines, severely compromising the safe and stable operation of power grids. Material hardness and mechanical performance parameters are critical factors determining erosion resistance. However, the current evaluation system for silicone rubber material performance under the complex environmental conditions of sandstorm-prone regions remains incomplete, failing to optimally select materials capable of meeting long-term service requirements in extreme wind-sand erosion environments. To address this, the study established 20 sampling points along ultra-high voltage transmission line towers in frequent sandstorm areas of Xinjiang and Qinghai. A coordinated sand collection system integrating weather stations, sand collectors, and anemometers was designed to conduct on-site collection of dust samples. Statistical analyses of sand particle size distribution, morphology, and high-altitude wind speeds were performed to authentically reconstruct the wind-sand environment in desert, Gobi, and wilderness regions. Based on the analysis of wind-sand characteristic parameters, a mobile, multi-environmental parameter-adjustable airflow sandblasting erosion simulation test system was developed. This system enabled sand erosion simulation experiments on silicone rubber flat specimens under varying erosion durations and angles, as well as on intact composite insulators under steady-state erosion conditions. Post-erosion characterization of silicone rubber materials with different formulations included microscopic morphology analysis, roughness measurement, hydrophobicity assessment, hardness testing, mechanical property evaluation, and flashover voltage testing. A multi-dimensional performance evaluation system for silicone rubber materials was established, facilitating the optimal selection of materials better suited to the extreme wind-sand erosion environments in desert, Gobi, and wilderness regions. This systematic approach provides a scientific basis for developing composite insulators with enhanced durability in harsh sandstorm-prone areas. This study reveals the damage evolution patterns and performance degradation mechanisms of silicone rubber materials under wind-sand erosion conditions. The research identifies a distinct three-stage characteristic in the erosion wear process of silicone rubber materials: During the initial phase, low-hardness materials exhibit higher wear rates while high tear-strength materials demonstrate superior performance. In the acceleration phase, the wear rate growth of high tear-strength materials becomes significantly pronounced. At the steady-state phase, material hardness shows a negative correlation with wear rate, where increasing hardness can reduce wear rates by over 30%. The steady-state erosion rate displays a typical unimodal distribution with sand impact angles, peaking between 30°~45°. Notably, the high-hardness 1 material (80 Shore A) exhibits optimal erosion resistance, achieving a 30% lower wear rate and minimal cumulative mass loss compared to conventional materials. Morphological analysis of steady-state damage demonstrates that low-hardness materials primarily undergo viscoelastic fatigue-driven lamellar exfoliation, whereas high-hardness materials develop a composite damage mechanism combining brittle exfoliation and crack propagation, forming characteristic “pit clusters with radial cracks” morphologies. Comprehensive performance evaluations confirm that the high-hardness 1 material maintains significant advantages in mechanical property retention, hydrophobicity recovery capability, and flashover voltage stability. Based on these findings, it is recommended to prioritize the 80 Shore A high- hardness 1 silicone rubber material for power equipment in desert-Gobi-wilderness regions. This research provides critical theoretical foundations and experimental support for selecting protective materials in extreme environments, offering technical guidance for enhancing the operational reliability of transmission lines in sandstorm-prone areas.
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2026, Vol. 41 
