The positive temperature coefficient (PTC) effect of the semiconductive layers of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables is a key factor limiting its usage when the temperature exceeds 70 °C. The conductivity of the ionic conductor increases with the increase in temperature. Based on the characteristics of the ionic conductor, the PTC effect of the composite can be weakened by doping the ionic conductor into the semiconductive materials. Thus, in this paper, the PCT effects of electrical resistivity in perovskite La0.6Sr0.4CoO3 (LSC) particle-dispersed semiconductive composites are discussed based on experimental results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a semiconductive resistance test device. Semiconductive composites with different LSC contents of 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 5 wt% were prepared by hot pressing crosslinking. The results show that the PTC effect is weakened due to the addition of LSC. At the same time, the injection of space charge in the insulating sample is characterized by the pulsed electroacoustic method (PEA) and the thermally stimulated current method (TSC), and the results show that when the content of LSC is 1 wt%, the injection of space charge in the insulating layer can be significantly reduced.

This paper describes the effects of α-Al2O3 nanosheets on the direct current voltage breakdown strength and space charge accumulation in crosslinked polyethylene/α-Al2O3 nanocomposites. The α-Al2O3 nanosheets with a uniform size and high aspect ratio were synthesized, surface-modified, and characterized. The α-Al2O3 nanosheets were uniformly distributed into a crosslinked polyethylene matrix by mechanical blending and hot-press crosslinking. Direct current breakdown testing, electrical conductivity tests, and measurements of space charge indicated that the addition of α-Al2O3 nanosheets introduced a large number of deep traps, blocked the charge injection, and decreased the charge carrier mobility, thereby significantly reducing the conductivity (from 3.25 × 10−13 S/m to 1.04 × 10−13 S/m), improving the direct current breakdown strength (from 220 to 320 kV/mm) and suppressing the space charge accumulation in the crosslinked polyethylene matrix. Besides, the results of direct current breakdown testing and electrical conductivity tests also showed that the surface modification of α-Al2O3 nanosheets effectively improved the direct current breakdown strength and reduced the conductivity of crosslinked polyethylene/α-Al2O3 nanocomposites.