A review on corrosion, mechanical, and electrical properties of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composites for high-voltage insulator core rod applications: challenges and recommendations

In recent years, glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composites have been proven to be a promising material for use in fabricating insulator core rods for high-voltage transmission lines. Composite insulator core rods are reportedly degrading during its application due to poor interfacial bonding, brittle fracture, stress corrosion cracking, water absorption, and decay-like fracture. These key factors have affected their mechanical and electrical insulation properties during application. However, this review summarizes the effects of glass fibers, such as E-glass and electrical corrosion resistance glass fiber on the corrosion, mechanical, and electrical properties of epoxy composites for composite insulator core rods. Further, the authors concluded the review with advancement, challenges, and recommendations for future improvement of epoxy composites as a mechanical load-bearing and insulation component material in high-voltage composite insulators. As such, the review offers an intuition into the advancement and selection of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composite materials for core rods. More so, the review will also give way for further research on insulator core rods development for high-voltage transmission lines.