7. Resistance of insulating materials to mechanical stress

Although this article focuses on the electrical characteristics of insulating materials, it's worth remembering that, in many cases, electrical failures are initiated by mechanical failures.

Satisfactory insulation must therefore be made from materials with sufficient mechanical properties to ensure that they are not damaged during installation, and that they can withstand the various mechanical stresses encountered in service (stresses due to expansion, vibration, thermal shock, etc.) without failure. It is therefore of the utmost importance to choose insulating materials with sufficient mechanical properties for the job in hand.

Although it is not our intention to draw up an exhaustive list of the mechanical characteristics of insulating materials, the following is a reminder of some of the qualities that need to be ensured, and the principle...