ABSTRACT
The primary function of insulators in electrical circuits is to provide physical separation between conductors and to regulate or prevent current flow between them. Important other functions include providing mechanical support, heat dissipation, thermal shock resistance, and a chemically stable environment for the conductors. Ceramic materials that provide primarily these functions are classified as ceramic insulators. They include most glasses, porcelains, oxide and nitride materials, as well as mica. The main advantage of ceramics as insulators is their capability for high-temperature operation without hazardous degradation in chemical, mechanical, or dielectric properties. In particular, the ceramic insulators must satisfy use specifications where high electrical resistance and dielectric strength, as well as relatively low dielectric constant and loss, are essential requirements [1-3].
