Electrical Insulation

Electrical insulation prevents electrical currents from flowing where they aren’t needed or could cause damage or injuries. Electrical insulators are useful for a variety of industries and applications that demand durable and heat-resistant materials. Several materials are suitable for these use cases, and you can find them at Atlas Fibre. Discover how you can use composites for your electrical insulation requirements.

Applications for Electrical Insulation

Electrical insulation allows electricity to flow through or to a material. This type of insulation is often necessary for industries including automotive, consumer goods, and aerospace. These industries use electrical insulation for applications including:

• Circuit breaker components
• Flare bases
• Switchboard panels
• Electrical Standoffs
• Terminal boards
• Motor wedges
• Jigs
• Arc barriers
• Specialty terminal blocks
• Switch mounts
• Rocket cases
• Guides
• Heating elements
• Circuit board holders
• Washers
• Gasket and sealing components
• Gears
• Transformers
• Sheaves
• Bushings
• Wear pads
• Rollers

Best Materials for Electrical Insulation

Several materials are suitable for electrical insulation applications, each of which offers unique properties that make it ideal for a given use case. Some of the best materials for electrical insulation include:

• Glass epoxy: This material provides superior electrical and thermal insulation. FR5 material is ideal for applications requiring mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and the ability to resist high temperatures. This material is often a suitable substitute for applications needing G11.
• Phenolic: Canvas electric phenolic is lightweight, cost-effective, and durable. This material is a rigid composite with good electrical insulating properties. CE material is compatible with processes including tapping, punching, shearing, cutting, milling, sanding, turning, and drilling.
• Glass melamine: Materials like G5 have excellent electrical properties in low- or high-humidity conditions. Glass melamine delivers superior electrical insulation even in wet environments.
• Thermoset composite plastics: Electrical insulating plastics are completely or highly resistant to electrical currents, preventing conductivity that could cause damage to property or people. This material is suitable for semiconductor manufacturing.

Are Composites Good Insulators?

Thermoset electrical insulation composites can maintain physical and electrical properties during exposure to elevated temperatures. These composites have excellent strength and a rigid structure. High-performance composites can handle even the most challenging applications, such as insulating components of switch gear, motor brush holders, stand-off insulators, or circuit breakers.

You can find several types of composite materials at Atlas Fibre, including hybrids. Composites such as FR4 or G10 do not conduct heat well, making them superior insulators. Additionally, thermoset composites resist heat, making them ideal for braking systems because they isolate the disks.

Request a Quote for Electrical Insulation

Atlas Fibre makes electrical insulation composites possible. As the largest supplier of thermoset composite laminate in North America, we stock more than anyone else and carry an extensive variety. You can find electrical insulating plastic sheets and various composites to meet your unique needs with us.

We proudly serve industries including aerospace, cryogenics, defense, electric vehicles, and semiconductor production. We can complete custom-cut pieces to suit your needs and offer detailed specification sheets to ensure you find the material you need. Request a quote from our team to learn how we can help you.