Cover Image, Volume 139, Issue 17

Abstract

Parambalath Narendran Ashitha designed the cover image and, along with colleagues at the Central Power Research Institute, wrote the accompanying article on how the successful deployment of nanofillers in hightemperature vulcanizing silicone rubber matrix requires chemical surface treatments. The authors utilized a facile technique employing the use of an in-situ modification of filler surfaces. In this work, the importance of judicious selection of dispersing aid is shown through the comparison of properties of silane coupling agent KH-570 and non-ionic surfactant Triton-X-100 dispersed composites. The enhanced interaction in the presence of KH-570 and the subsequent reduced arching, generation of plasma, and erosion during the dry arc resistance test at 12.50 kV a.c. is illustrated by the formation of thermal pathways or bridges. DOI: 10.1002/app.52102