Study of Silicone Rubber Based Composites with Nanosized Fillers

Abstract

Polymer based insulating dielectric materials have been replaced ceramic dielectric materials in the recent past due to their better electric, thermal and mechanical properties. They are user friendly and can be poured into any shape and size. In this work, room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (RTVSR) is used as the base insulating material on account of its hydrophobicity and consequent low leakage losses. Further, addition of nanosized fillers into bulk polymers has often been seen to improve their electrical and non-electrical properties. Here, nanosized alumina fillers have been used in the RTVSR matrix. A concentration level of 3% by weight of nanoAlumina (Al2O3) is used. Mechanical mixing and ultrasonic mixing are used for reducing the agglomeration of nanofillers. In this work, we study the effect of incorporation of nanofillers into RTVSR on its propensity to tracking and associated degradation. Inclined plane test for erosion (IPT) as per the IEC60587 is performed. To estimate the extent of erosion, SEM and weight loss analysis are also done. Silicone rubber filled with nanosized alumina is seen to have a greater resistance to erosion in comparison to pure silicone rubber.