Oxidation as in situ insulation?

[eromlignod]

Hi guys:

I am a mechanical engineer with an application where I have steel and brass contacting each other at a point (think of two spheres contacting each other). I need to electrically insulate them from one another, but it is impossible to add a physical insulator between them in this situation.

I would like to look into oxidizing (or other chemical process) one or both metals, while in place, to create a junction that does not conduct electricity. Is there a way through chemical or electrical application to induce oxidation, corrosion, electrolysis, or some other process to obtain what I need? It does not have to have much dielectric strength, since only 5 Vdc electronic voltage will be present.

Thanks for any replies.

Don

 

[Latexman]

Motor windings are coated wires. How about applying a tough coating to each?

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[MiketheEngineer]

At 5 V - even spray paint may work - try it

 

[zdas04]

Spray epoxy would certainly work.

The trouble with relying on oxidation is that it never reaches a stable equilibrium. The oxidized surface is always changing (think of a junk car in the woods, after a few years the metal gets as thin as paper, the oxidation layer does not stop further oxidation it just slows it down).

David

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

http://www.muleshoe-eng.com

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.

 

[Latexman]

Are these objects going to be banging into each other, or is this a static situation once set in place?

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[eromlignod]

The objects are actually in contact with each other with about 75 lbs force. There is no gap for a coating. That's why I'd like to chemically change the outermost surface of one or both to another compound that insulates. The contact spot is small, so I'm hoping some sort of oxidation could chemically work its way in deep enough to break the contact.

Don

 

[hacksaw]

won't work, as both oxides partially conducting, back to design, in any event the withstand voltage other than arc eroded/burnt surfaces is less than a volt, if that