Experimental Investigation on Electrical and Mechanical Characteristics of PVC Cable Insulation with Silica Nano Filler

Abstract

Cables are an integral part of the power transmission and distribution network. As the voltage level increases, amount of insulation used in the cable increases. Therefore a need arises for a material with better insulation characteristics to be used in cables. The dielectric strength of cable insulation depends on many factors such as the existence of filler material in the insulation. In this work, laboratory studies on a new filler material for cable insulation have been conducted. The influence of Silicon dioxide (SiO2) filler on the dielectric and mechanical properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cable were analyzed. Comparison is made between the result of measurement and the actual value of the pure specimen. From the results, it is shown that the filler material has improved the dielectric and mechanical properties of the cable insulation.