Insulator
An electrical insulator is a material whose internal electric charges do not flow freely; very little electric current will flow through it under the influence of an electric field. This contrasts with other materials, semiconductors and conductors, which conduct electric current more easily. The property that distinguishes an insulator is its resistivity; insulators have higher resistivity than semiconductors or conductors.
A perfect insulator does not exist, because even insulators contain small numbers of mobile charges (charge carriers) which can carry current. In addition, all insulators become electrically conductive when a sufficiently large voltage is applied that the electric field tears electrons away from the atoms. This is known as the breakdown voltage of an insulator. Some materials such as glass, paper and Teflon, which have high resistivity, are very good electrical insulators. A much larger class of materials, even though they may have lower bulk resistivity, are still good enough to prevent significant current from flowing at normally used voltages, and thus are employed as insulation for electrical wiring and cables. Examples include rubber-like polymers and most plastics which can be thermoset or thermoplastic in nature.
Insulators are used in electrical equipment to support and separate electrical conductors without allowing current through themselves. An insulating material used in bulk to wrap electrical cables or other equipment is called insulation. The term insulator is also used more specifically to refer to insulating supports used to attach electric power distribution or transmission lines to utility poles and transmission towers. They support the weight of the suspended wires without allowing the current to flow through the tower to ground.
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Scholarships for Insulator Majors
NCK Tech Kansas Promise ScholarshipNorth Central Kansas Technical College |
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award Up to $20,000 |
deadline Varies |
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NASCLA Scholarship ProgramNational Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies |
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award Up to $5,000 |
deadline June 30, 2023 |
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John Grossheim Memorial ScholarshipNuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs Foundation |
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award Up to $3,500 |
deadline Varies |
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Donohue Family SkillPointe ScholarshipSkillPointe Foundation |
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award $2,000 |
deadline Varies |
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Home Depot Foundation's Path to Pro ScholarshipSkillPointe Foundation |
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award $2,000 |
deadline June 30, 2023 |
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U.K. Gupta and Family ScholarshipNuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs Foundation |
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award Up to $2,500 |
deadline Varies |
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Nuts and Bolts Foundation ScholarshipNuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs Foundation |
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award Up to $2,500 |
deadline Varies |
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Henry T. Schatz Endowed ScholarshipBates Technical College |
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award $1,500 |
deadline Varies |
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Schatz/Quasim Endowed ScholarshipBates Technical College |
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award $1,000 |
deadline Varies |
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Lancaster County Farm Bureau ScholarshipSoutheast Community College |
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award $1,000 |
deadline Varies |
Insulator Related Majors
- Electrician
- Construction Trades
- Building/Construction Site Management/Manager
- Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector
- Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
- Building Construction Technology/Technician
- Plumbing Technology/Plumber
- Building/Property Maintenance
- Painting/Painter and Wall Coverer
- Lineworker
- Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter
- Well Drilling/Driller
- Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
- Metal Building Assembly/Assembler
- Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher
- Roofer
- Drywall Installation/Drywaller
- Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker
- Blasting/Blaster
- Glazier