HVIC Application
Apart from the HVIC material itself, the most critical and important factor is the application of HVIC to the insulator. A poor or bad quality application would render the installation ineffective and result in high costs to both remove the old coating and re-apply fresh coating.
Indigo Power train their applicators to a very high standard, not only do they have to prove their proficiency with spray equipment and applying HVIC, they must demonstrate a clear understanding of the fundamentals of coating processes. This means that our applicators are proficient in all aspects of coatings.
Indigo Power actively promote a Turnkey approach to High Voltage Insulator Coating. The main reasons for this approach are as follows:
- On-site application provides flexibility for the major contractors, especially over a long contract such as 9 months to 2 years, where it may be advantageous to relocate the coating application to various sites.
- A full Manufacturer’s Warranty can be issued on completion of the project.
- Remedial repairs, due to transit damages, can be carried out easily and quickly.
- On-site application is generally much more cost effective for the utility.
- Due to the wide configuration of insulators, from plain desert insulators, to anti fog insulators, to long rod insulators; all can be accommodated through on-site application.
- On-site application allows both utility and contractor personnel to gain first-hand experience of the coating and application process.
Surface Preparation
As with all coatings, the adhesion of the coating to an insulator is only as good as the surface to which it is applied. All grease and dirt from the insulator surface must be removed; failure to follow strict cleaning process will result in a coating with poor adhesion. Indigo Power has the knowledge and necessary experience with HVIC to not only ensure first class application methods but also issue a manufacturer’s warranty for the completed project.
Film Thickness
To ensure both consistency and accuracy of measurement, Indigo Power use ultrasonic film thickness gauges to measure the cured coating, this provides an accurate measurement of the coating together with a record of the measurements taken.
NOTE: Full cure of the coating takes up to 7 days, therefore a small amount of loss in film thickness will occur over this period. The loss is only in the region of a few microns but this has no detrimental affect on the hydrophobicity characteristics of the coating.
Please contact Indigo Power FZC with any particular application questions.