Study on the Anticondensation Characteristics of Liquid Silicone Rubber Temperature-Control Coatings

Polymers (Basel). 2019 Aug 1;11(8):1282. doi: 10.3390/polym11081282.

Abstract

Metal cabinets such as switch cabinets and ring network cabinets have the advantages of small footprints and good protection for equipment and offer neat and orderly protection. They are widely used in power systems. In a hot and humid environment, condensation can easily cause equipment to age and even cause insulation failure. Therefore, research on reliable anticondensation methods is of great significance for the safe operation of power equipment. In this study, phase change capsules with phase transition temperatures of 22 and 32 °C were used as fillers and liquid silicone rubber was used as a matrix to prepare liquid silicone rubber composites filled with phase change capsules for a temperature-control coating. Studies have shown that liquid silicone rubber coatings containing phase change capsules can significantly enhance the anticondensation performance of metal cabinets. By using a temperature-control coating on the surface where the cabinet experiences condensation, the temperature difference between the surface and the dew point is reduced, thereby slowing down the condensation rate and even preventing condensation.

Keywords: condensation; liquid silicone rubber; phase change capsule; phase change materials; ring-network cabinet.