Significant Difference in the Properties of Porcelain Insulator Produced through Slip and Press Cast Forming Techniques

This paper investigates the effect of forming techniques on the mechanical and dielectric properties of porcelain insulators. Insulators are used in electrical equipment to separate conductors and prevent the flow of electrical charges. Slip casting is commonly used because it is cheaper and easier, but its inferior strength properties have been reported. However, other forming techniques like press casting, which can compact particle sizes by applying pressure, may result in better mechanical strength and dielectric properties. The study examined slip-casting and press-casting methods to determine which method produces better-quality electrical porcelain insulators. Using both techniques, locally available raw materials such as kaolin, feldspar, silica, and ball clay were processed before being used to create samples. The mechanical and dielectric strength of the electrical porcelain insulators produced through slip and press cast methods were analyzed using an independent t-test to compare the mean value between the two variables (Slip and press cast). The study found that slip casting produces insulators with slightly lower bulk density than press casting, but the difference is not significant enough to affect the insulators' mechanical and dielectric properties. The results showed no significant difference in bulk densities between the two forming techniques, implying that both methods are equally viable for producing shackle-type electrical insulators. These findings provide valuable insights for manufacturers, allowing them to select the most suitable forming technique based on their specific production needs and constraints.