Westinghouse develops stronger glaze for insulators

New Insulator Passes Test

Device Designed to Meet Demands of Defense Production

Tests have been completed at Emeryville of a new type or porcelain insulator designed to withstand greatly increased flows of electric power to meet defense production records.

The insulator was placed under a mechanical hammer at the Emeryville porcelain works of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. The instrument bounced off harmlessly, causing no more damage to the porcelain that a fist thudding against the hull of a battleship.

OVERCOAT OF GLASS

The secret of the insulator's strength is a "glass overcoat" glazing developed by Dr. Ralston Russell Jr., a former Ohio State University . . . [illegible text] . . . who is in charge of ceramic research and development at the Westinghouse Research Laboratory in East Pittsburgh, Pa.

Much progress has been made in developing stronger insulators during the past years, E. Nott, manager of the Emeryville porcelain works, said; but the new insulator is the strongest of all.

CREDIT ACCORDED

"Without that progress," he said, "the supplying of power to defense industries would not be the routine job it is today. Weight of long spans and the buffeting by storms might "sabotage" the Nation's defense efforts by damaging less sturdy insulators."

The new "overcoat" glazing was produced by mixing in correct proportions certain clays, flint and oxides. Rigid control of the raw materials in glazes eliminates the initial strains caused by contraction during the cooling period in the old types.