Abstract
Promising electrical field grading materials (FGMs) for high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) applications have been designed by dispersing reduced graphene oxide (rGO) grafted with relatively short chains of poly (n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) in a poly(ethylene-co-butyl acrylate) (EBA) matrix. All rGO-PBMA composites with a filler fraction above 3 vol.% exhibited a distinct non-linear resistivity with increasing electric field; and it was confirmed that the resistivity could be tailored by changing the PBMA graft length or the rGO filler fraction. A combined image analysis- and Monte-Carlo simulation strategy revealed that the addition of PBMA grafts improved the enthalpic solubility of rGO in EBA; resulting in improved particle dispersion and more controlled flake-to-flake distances. The addition of rGO and rGO-PBMAs increased the modulus of the materials up to 200% and the strain did not vary significantly as compared to that of the reference matrix for the rGO-PBMA-2 vol.% composites; indicating that the interphase between the rGO and EBA was subsequently improved. The new composites have comparable electrical properties as today’s commercial FGMs; but are lighter and less brittle due to a lower filler fraction of semi-conductive particles (3 vol.% instead of 30–40 vol.%).
Highlights
Polymeric nanocomposites, i.e., polymers with nanofillers incorporated into the matrix, have been intensively studied during the last decades
We suggest that the inherent thermal stability of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)
Reduced graphene oxide sheets were successfully surface modified with PBMA
Summary
I.e., polymers with nanofillers incorporated into the matrix, have been intensively studied during the last decades. The extremely large specific surface area of all nanofillers can be exploited to improve many material properties. Traditional composites are typically designed for improving the mechanical properties of the material, but nanocomposites are more versatile; for instance, the thermal and electrical properties are influenced by the addition of nanofillers such as graphene, ZnO, or Al2 O3 [1,2]. Ultra-sonication of the nanoparticles can be performed prior to mixing to break-up particle agglomerates and facilitate good particle dispersion. The dispersion is further influenced by the volume filler fraction of particles and by the predisposition of the particles to self-assemble and form agglomerates within the matrix; nanoparticles are typically prone to aggregate due to their large surface area.
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