Metal Hardware Overhead Networks Selection for Use in Critical Regions at Coastal Aereas Using a Simplified Physical Model - Part III

Galvanized steel's hardwares used by Brazilian utilities at networks close to coastal area historically has an average life of approximately four years against the estimated 20 years when used in non-corrosive environments. Low average life of such hardware is justified by the salty air and the leakage current from the degradation of insulators. The last factor causes a greatly accelerated and could be considered the main causative agent of low durability of such hardware. This paper presents studies' results conducted for alternative materials' selection in order to have an average life in the field at least 10 years. This studies are done using a new accelerated aging test methodology in a controlled environment which can produce major aggressiveness of the ambient and the stimuli to which the CELESC's overhead networks hardware experience in field (simplified model), including electric field' presence which results in their development are also presented herein.