RODURFLEX® Insulators are silicone rubber composite insulators. The mechanical strength is provided by a brittle fracture resistant FRP rod (Fibre Reinforced Polymer). HTV silicone rubber is the material used for the rod housing and the sheds. Most of the RODURFLEX® Insulators are equipped with hot dip galvanized fittings made of forged steel. Fittings are available for all kinds of connections like clevis, tongue, ball, socket, oval eye etc.

We have more than 35 years of service experience - RODURFLEX® Insulators were first developed at Rosenthal Insulator Company (RIG) beginning in the year 1965. A continuous development from the first roots resulted in the now available optimized silicone rubber RODURFLEX® composite insulators. The Rosenthal Company was the Pioneer in the development of composite insulators worldwide. The first application of RODURFLEX® Insulators was in 1967 in the network of RWE (Germany) at 110kV.

The Composite Insulator System RODURFLEX® product range covers following applications and insulator types:

· Composite longrod insulators (SML up to 100 klbs / 450 kN, length up to 20 ft. / 6000 mm in one unit) up to 1100 kV
· Composite line post insulators (horizontal, vertical unbraced up to 362 kV, braced up to 420kV)
· Composite traction line (catenary system) insulators
· Distribution type composite insulators Hollow composite insulators for application in surge arresters, circuit breakers, bushings and CTs/VTs
· Optical fibre insulators (optical fibre bushings, lead outs)

The expected lifetime is more than 30 years. RODURFLEX® Insulators are in service since 1967 and have not lost there excellent performance under various service conditions during time all over the world.

The development started in 1965 and the first commissioning took place in 1967, when the first RODURFLEX® Insulators were installed in a 110kV line in Germany.

RODURFLEX® Insulators are in service in more than 50 countries throughout the world.

Due to the fact that RODURFLEX® Insulators are commissioned in more than 50 countries, they are exposed to all kinds of pollution and climatic zones. (e.g. marine pollution, salt fog, tropical, desert, icy, rural, heavy industrial etc.)

For a documented example, please visit our Download Center and read our Technical Paper entitled: “Service Experience with Composite Insulators Under Tropical Climate Conditions in Malaysia”.

Live line maintenance in general is possible with Rodurflex® Insulators.

Under normal circumstances (if the washing procedure is properly applied), the insulators should withstand the high pressure washing procedure without any damage. Nevertheless, care should be taken concerning the stressing of the sealing area. The sealing area shall not be subjected directly to sharp high pressure water streams of 40bar from the nozzle at low distances (0.5-1.0m). For longer distances, that are normally applied for washing (recommended 3m), the sealing area is not negatively affected (see A1). All parameters given by the manufacturer are properly selected and “state of the art“ referring to washing of NCIs:

Distance nozzle to insulator: 3 m / 118 inch
Nozzle diameter: 6 mm / 0.23 inch
Pressure at nozzle: 40 bar / 580 PSI
Pressure setting at device: 50 bar / 725 PSI

Special care must be taken to safety guides if high pressure washing shall be applied live line !!! For more information, please visit our Download Center and read our Technical Paper entitled: "Washing and Live Line Maintenance With RODURFLEX Insulators".

Link to technical comments on: Washing and live line maintenance with RODURFLEX® Insulators

Due to the hydrophobicity transfer effect, cleaning is not necessary and not recommended. For more information, please visit our Download Center and read our Technical Paper entitled: “Hydrophobicity Effect of Silicone Housed Composite Insulators and its Transfer to Pollution Layers“.

Yes, it is possible. For washing parameters and performance, please visit our Download Center and read our Technical Paper entitled: “Washing and Live Line Maintenance With RODURFLEX Insulators".

The temperature at the end fitting should not exceed 100°C (212°F) permanently. Permanent maximum temperature at the end fitting: 100°C (212°F). (The conductor may exceed this value because of heat transfer (conduction, radiation) between hardware fittings and insulator end fitting. The end fitting is usually much colder than the conductor itself.