Earth resistance is the measure of how easily electric current can flow from an electrode into the ground. Lower resistance ensures the current dissipates faster and more safely during a fault.
This resistance depends mostly on soil resistivity. To keep the value within safe limits, the soil around the electrode must be stable and conductive enough to allow proper current flow. That’s where Earthing Compound Powder helps. It improves the soil condition around the electrode, so your system meets the required resistance levels and maintains electrical safety.
In this blog, we will discuss the Earthing Compound Powder. By the end of this blog, you will understand:
- What is an Earthing Compound Powder?
- The different types available
- Technical specifications
- And which type should you use?
What is Earthing Compound Powder?
In simple words, it’s a backfill compound made from a mix of minerals that has lower soil resistivity. Its main feature is the ability to absorb and hold moisture, which helps your earthing system maintain a consistent resistance over time.
Types of Earthing Compound Powder
As soil conditions vary, some sites have dry soil, some are highly corrosive, and others have a high moisture. One compound can’t perform well in every condition. Therefore, we offer different types of Earthing Compound Powder, each suited for a specific application. Let’s understand them in detail.
1. Axifill-lite
Axifill-lite is a Bentonite-based Earth Enhancing Compound designed for areas with high water tables or moisture, often near water bodies. When mixed with water, it swells up to 13 times its dry volume, filling air gaps around the electrode and keeping it tightly packed in the soil. This swelling stabilizes and lowers earth resistance.
It is made from Bentonite, salts, and minerals that boost conductivity and help it perform in loose, shifting soils. The compound is odourless and non-leaching, which means it does not release harmful substances into the soil. This makes it safe for the environment and for long-term use. Axi-fill lite compound is RoHS compliant, confirming it’s free from hazardous materials. Its measured resistivity is less than or equal to 2 ohm-meters, which is suitable for most grounding applications.
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2. Axifill
Axifill is a highly conductive Earth Enhancing Compound, ideal for locations where low earth resistance is critical. It is Bentonite-based, like Axifill-lite, but has special minerals and moisture absorbing agents. These include compounds of sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which improve conductivity and help retain moisture over time. Its resistivity is 0.12 ohm-meters, making it suitable for sensitive electrical systems.
The added minerals improve conductivity, while the moisture-retaining agents help keep water around the electrode even in dry conditions. This prevents air gaps and ensures stable contact with the surrounding soil.
Axifill is used in substations and high-voltage yards where consistent low resistance is essential for handling fault currents. It also works well in places like telecom networks, transmission and distribution towers.
3. Axifill-ultra
Axifill-ultra is a premium Earth Enhancing Compound made from graphite. Unlike Bentonite-based compounds, it uses multi-layer carbon structures that offer higher conductivity and longer service life. It is designed for sensitive sites where grounding needs to be stable, reliable, and corrosion-resistant.
What sets Axifill-ultra apart is its neutral pH value, which is around 7. This prevents corrosion of the earth electrode, especially in areas where the soil is acidic or alkaline. The graphite particles improve conductivity, while moisture-retaining agents keep water around the electrode even in dry conditions. High-strength binders ensure the compound stays compact and maintains contact with the electrode. Critical sites like data centres rely on Axifill-ultra to maintain stable resistance.
Every type of Earthing Compound Powder manufactured at Axis is tested and certified for key performance benchmarks. These include resistivity tests to confirm how well it reduces earth resistance, leaching tests to ensure no harmful chemicals escape into the soil, and corrosion tests to check that it won’t damage nearby conductors. Each compound is also tested for sulphur content, pH level, moisture retention, and thermal stability.
We conduct all tests in line with IEC 62561-7, IEEE 80, and BS 7430 standards. These certifications prove that the compound is of good quality and will perform reliably in extreme conditions.
We hope you now have a clear understanding of Earthing Compounds. Always ensure that the selection and installation of earthing materials are carried out by trained and authorized professionals.
At Axis, we have a team of over 50 engineers who can help you with choosing, applying, and testing these compounds. Our products are installed worldwide in solar farms, substations, data centres, factories, and in everyday residential and commercial projects.
Thank you for reading and if you found this informative, then feel free to contact us to get a quote or to know more about our products; visit our product section at https://axis-india.com/products/