2005-03-15 - New epoxy resin formula eliminates time consuming and costly post curing process while maintaining robustness and insulating properties
A new patented formula for epoxy resin, developed by ABB, is helping the company reduce the production time for a variety of its power technology products by up to 20%. Equipment such as dry transformers, embedded poles in medium voltage breakers and instrument transformers are insulated with epoxy resin because of its superior mechanical and electrical properties, low water uptake, chemical and temperature resistance and comparatively low cost.
Until now, however, the post curing process has taken an average of 15 hours to complete. This has limited production flexibility and also required a major investment in ovens and moulds as well as taking up considerable space.
ABB’s new ‘high speed epoxy resin’ formula eliminates the time consuming and costly post curing process while maintaining the robustness and high quality of the finished products. With the new formula the process of mixing, casting and curing takes just three hours. Curing takes place at much higher temperatures, temperatures at which conventional epoxy usually cracks.
The new formula was initially used on medium voltage breaker poles. Following this success it is now being used to make insulating components in ABB’s switchgear factory at Brno in the Czech Republic. This year its use is being extended in this plant and rolled out to other factories in Germany and Norway.
ABB makes more high and medium voltage products than any other company.
Company background
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 103,000 people