Surface‐modified MgO nanoparticle enhances the mechanical and direct‐current electrical characteristics of polypropylene/polyolefin elastomer nanodielectrics

Abstract

Polypropylene (PP)/polyolefin elastomer (POE) blends and MgO/PP/POE nanocomposites were fabricated by melt blending. The morphology, mechanical, and electrical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface-modified MgO nanoparticles were well dispersed in the polymer matrix at low loadings of less than 3 phr. X-ray diffraction demonstrated that the crystalline phases of PP in the composites were changed and that the b phase significantly increased. An examination of the electrical properties revealed that the direct-current (dc) electric breakdown strength and spacecharge suppression effect were remarkably improved by the introduction of the surface-modified MgO nanoparticles. In addition, obvious enhancements in the tensile modulus and strength were obtained as a result of the synergistic toughening of the POE and MgO nanoparticles. Thus, MgO/PP/POE nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties have great potential to be used as recyclable insulation materials for high-voltage dc cables with large transmission capacities and high operating temperatures.

A review of thermoplastic elastomeric nanocomposites for high voltage insulation applications

“…They found that blending PP with POE can result in enhanced mechanical flexibility, good enough thermal properties (i.e., high melting temperatures) and enhanced electrical properties (i.e., increased volume resistivity and high breakdown strength) which is promising for HVDC cable. However, the space charge accumulation were deteriorated and further work by them revealed that introducing MgO nanoparticles could improve the electrical properties of PP/POE blends, especially space charge accumulation. Nanocomposites consisting of PP/POE blends and SiO 2 nanoparticles were prepared by Diao et al and the influence of nanoparticle addition on the mechanical, thermal and DC electrical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated.…”

“…This includes the use of surfactants, which help to reduce high surface energy and interfacial tension in nanofillers . Improvement in dielectric properties such as AC and DC breakdown strength , electrical and water tree resistance as well as reduction in the space charge , partial discharge , permittivity and dielectric loss has been widely documented in nanocomposites with chemically treated nanoparticles.…”

Anomalous behavior of the dielectric and electrical properties of polymeric nanodielectric poly(vinyl alcohol)–titanium dioxide films

“…Polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs) have been the subject of intense research in materials sciences for the last 2 decades because of the ability of these materials to integrate the useful properties of both polymers and inorganic nanofillers (nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanowires, and nanoplatelets) . Polymers have advantages of processability, flexibility, ductility, and electrical insulation, whereas rigidity, thermal stability, barrier properties, and flame retardancy are the major useful properties of nanofillers.…”

“…In the last decade, PNC materials based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and titanium dioxide (i.e., titania or TiO 2 ) have made considerable academic and technological progress because of their wide range of applications in various fields . PVA is a hydrophilic, nontoxic, and biocompatible polymer, and it is completely soluble in hot water.…”

“…In recent years, extensive work on the mechanical, thermal, optical, morphological, and structural properties of PVA–TiO 2 nanocomposites has been carried out to examine their performance improvements for various applications in chemical engineering processes, but their dielectric and electrical properties have yet to be explored to confirm their suitability as flexible‐type polymeric nanodielectrics. Generally, the term nanodielectrics is used for PNCs when they are considered as electrical insulators . Therefore, in this study, we examined the dielectric dispersion and electrical conduction in PVA–TiO 2 nanocomposites by using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy.…”