The Use of Liquid Dimethylsilicones to Produce Water-Repellent Surfaces on Glass-Insulator Bodies

The need to render ceramic surfaces water-repellent in certain electrical applications under high humidities is discussed. Organosilicon compounds have been found to make ceramic surfaces water-repellent. The nature of a family of such compounds, the dimethylsilicones, is briefly described. Methods of preparing and treating glass surfaces with silicones are presented. Results of tests on treated and untreated glass-insulator bodies are presented in detail. The advantages of the treatment as tested under adverse conditions such as immersion in sea water are shown.