Electrical characterization of castor-oil resins

Several Brazilian research works have shown that new materials, based on polyurethane resins derived from castor oil, have had great success in the medical field. This could in fact be expected because of their stable physical and chemical properties. In this work, using the same fabrication techniques, thin films and circular plates of 1-2 mm thickness, of these resins were made and electrically characterized. Tests for a.c, electrical breakdown, permittivity, d.c. insulation resistance and dissipation factor show that these materials are very good insulators. Internal insulators and conductor covers are among their main applications. Their mechanical properties are also presented and discussed.