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Teflon coatings for high voltage insulation - DIY application

2003

Hi,

I would like to coat the metal stators of an electrostatic loudspeaker with Teflon to insulate against high voltages. What product are available for DIY applications?

Thank you,

David Brotzen
- Stockholm, Sweden

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January 20, 2010

I saw your question online and I have a couple ideas. Your question did not give many details of your use so I hope my suggestions are helpful.

1. If you do not have to use Teflon, I would suggest silicone glue. It is a very good insulator and I've used it myself to control corona and arcing when using 14,000 volts.

2. If you have to use Teflon, there is Teflon tape used to wrap pipe threads to help seal gas and liquid leaks. It has no adhesive, it is just stretched around the pipe threads and clings when overlapped. Here, I can get 25 feet for 1 dollar. It's 1/2 inch wide (~1.25 cm). The tape is quite thin. Aside from being a water repellent layer, I don't think it would be good at stopping arcing or corona.

3. Another Teflon product I found is called Harvey's TFE Paste ⇨
It's Teflon powder in a carrier which slowly evaporates. It does not dry hard. It is sticky when fresh but is less so as it dries. I don't know how it would be in a high voltage application, but it should be water repellent. I plan to try it as an insulating coating where I cannot have even tiny surface currents. This material is also made for plumbing use.

Summary: If the silicone glue would not weigh down your surfaces too much, I would use that. It's easy to apply any thickness needed.
Hope this helps.
Jim

Jim Litrenti
- Schaumburg, Illinois