Abstract
This work reports the effect of octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OvPOSS) on tuning the electrical performance of polypropylene (PP). OvPOSS with different content are introduced into PP using the solution method. The microstructural morphology, crystallinity behaviour, breakdown strength, DC conductivity, space charge formation, and trapping level distribution are measured. The results indicate that the OvPOSS nanofiller can be dispersed uniformly with a doping content of 2.0 phr or less. The DC conductivity is decreased, and the breakdown strength of OvPOSS/PP nanocomposites is significantly increased. The space charge accumulation of the OvPOSS/PP nanocomposites is significantly suppressed due to the introduction of deeper traps by the OvPOSS nanofiller. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate that the OvPOSS nanofiller can greatly increase the electrical performance of the base PP and the OvPOSS/PP nanocomposites have much potential for HVDC applications. They further demonstrate that the PP is environmental-friendly due to its thermo-plastic property, which can be recycled after the manufacture.
Highlights
With the development of polymeric insulation materials, low‐ density polyethylene (LDPE) and cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) have been widely used in HVDC cable insulation
The results showed that the electrical properties have been enhanced by introducing octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OvPOSS)
The crystallinity of PP is remarkably stable under the influence of the OvPOSS nanofiller according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results
Summary
With the development of polymeric insulation materials, low‐ density polyethylene (LDPE) and cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) have been widely used in HVDC cable insulation. Due to the lower melting temperatures, LDPE does not have adequate electrical and mechanical properties and thermal stability under high temperatures [1]. XLPE, on the other hand, is manufactured through the crosslinking process of LDPE to achieve better mechanical properties and thermal stability than those of LDPE. Some crosslinking impurities, including cumyl alcohol, phenol, and acetophenone, would be introduced into the bulk material and these might shorten the lifespan of XLPE in the long‐term when used under HVDC [2]. There is a need to find an alternative thermoplastic polymer with equivalent (or better) thermal stability, mechanical performance, and electrical properties to replace XLPE
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