Do porcelain insulators last forever? or do they eventually have to be replaced from age degration?
Answer:
Nothing lasts "forever". However, if the porcelain is not damaged it should not need replacing. Dentists construct replacement teeth from porcelain. The power company replaces damaged, cracked or broken porcelain insulators with another made from porcelain. It's generally not age degredation which causes the replacement, but damage from trees or people shooting the insulators for target practice.
It depends on the environmental and usage conditions. Porcelain is a ceramic and will last for a very long time unless exposed to an overwhelming shock, mechanical or other external force. A large current and a thin piece of ceramic might not be a good combination. There are various methods used in forming the porcelain and if it is porous it will react differently than if it was pressed and fired. The porcelain may fail due to poor workmanship/quality. Porcelain will not corrode if it is fired and coated properly.
Nothing last forever, it will degrade by time. Only that some has fast and some has slow processing.
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