Biofilms on silicone rubber insulators; microbial composition and diagnostics of removal by use of ESEM/EDS - Composition of biofilms infecting silicone rubber insulators

• Silicone rubber high voltage insulators are sometimes reported to be colonised by microorganisms. When the hydrophobic polymeric surface is covered by a hydrophilic biofilm, the isolating properties of the insulator are reduced. However, cleaning the surface can restore the function of the insulator. In this study biofilms colonising insulators from Tanzania, Sri Lanka and Sweden were investigated. Results showed that the examined biofilms shared several properties. Small unicellular green algae associated with bacteria and filamentous fungi dominated all samples. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) with X-ray energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS) is proposed as a new method to determine if an infected surface can be cleaned.

Nyckelord

silicone rubber

high voltage insulation

biofilm

algae

fungi

ESEM/EDS

TECHNOLOGY

TEKNIKVETENSKAP

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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