Abstract
Blending thermoplastic elastomers into polypropylene (PP) can make it have great potential for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable insulation by improving its toughness. However, when a large amount of thermoplastic elastomer is blended, the electrical strength of PP will be decreased consequently, which cannot meet the electrical requirements of HVDC cables. To solve this problem, in this paper, the inherent structure of thermoplastic elastomer SEBS was used to construct acetophenone structural units on its benzene ring through Friedel–Crafts acylation, making it a voltage stabilizer that can enhance the electrical strength of the polymer. The DC electrical insulation properties and mechanical properties of acetylated SEBS (Ac-SEBS)/PP were investigated in this paper. The results showed that by doping 30% Ac-SEBS into PP, the acetophenone structural unit on Ac-SEBS remarkably increased the DC breakdown field strength of SEBS/PP by absorbing high-energy electrons. When the degree of acetylation reached 4.6%, the DC breakdown field strength of Ac-SEBS/ PP increased by 22.4% and was a little higher than that of PP. Ac-SEBS, with high electron affinity, is also able to reduce carrier mobility through electron capture, resulting in lower conductivity currents in SEBS/PP and suppressing space charge accumulation to a certain extent, which enhances the insulation properties. Besides, the highly flexible Ac-SEBS can maintain the toughening effect of SEBS, resulting in a remarkable increase in the tensile strength and elongation at the break of PP. Therefore, Ac-SEBS/PP blends possess excellent insulation properties and mechanical properties simultaneously, which are promising as insulation materials for HVDC cables.
Highlights
It was shown that the acetophenone unit modified in SEBS has the effect of the voltage stabilizer and can remarkably enhance the DC breakdown strength of the SEBS/PP
The results show that acetylated SEBS (Ac-SEBS)/PP possesses both an has the toughening effect of SEBS, which can enhance the elongation at break and tensile excellent electrical and mechanical performance and is expected to be applied to high-voltage direct current (HVDC)
Ac-SEBS/PP blends with excellent electrical strength and mechanical can trap a large amount of charge under the effect of factors, such as the interfacial potential toughness were prepared by the melt-blending process
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic material with wide sources, low prices, and easy recycling, which meets both economic and environmental needs and has a high melting point and excellent electrical and mechanical properties. Nano additive filling or organic functional group grafting methods are widely used to enhance the electrical properties of polymers [12,13,14,15]. It was shown that the acetophenone unit modified in SEBS has the effect of the voltage stabilizer and can remarkably enhance the DC breakdown strength of the SEBS/PP. The results show that Ac-SEBS/PP possesses both an has the toughening effect of SEBS, which can enhance the elongation at break and tensile excellent electrical and mechanical performance and is expected to be applied to HVDC strength of PP. Mechanical performance and is expected to be applied to HVDC cable insulation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
