In this study, we present the results of the influence of surface modification of TiO2 nanoparticles on the short-term breakdown strength and space charge distribution of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). A polar silane coupling agent N-(2-aminoethyl) 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane (AEAPS) was used for the nanoparticle surface modification. Despite agglomeration and a poor interface compared to untreated nanoparticles, it was found that the incorporation of polar groups onto the nanoparticle surface improved both the dielectric breakdown strength and space charge distribution as compared to samples filled with untreated nanoparticles. Microstructure studies showed that the presence of polar groups on the TiO2 nanoparticle surface did not evidently affect the degree of crystallinity, crystalline morphology (except for internal spherulitic order), and chemical structure of the polymer matrix. The improved dielectric breakdown strength was therefore concluded to be directly due to beneficial effects related to the variation of the electrical features at the particle surface due to introduction of polar groups. For the same reason, with the use of surface modified nanoparticles, formation of space charge was suppressed.

ZnO/low density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposites were prepared using melt mixing with good dispersion of the ZnO nanoparticles. The electrical properties (dc resistivity and breakdown strength) of the composite with various concentrations of ZnO up to the percolation limit were measured and compared to the corresponding electrical properties of submicron ZnO filled LDPE. It was observed that the nanocomposites exhibited a lower percolation limit and a slower decrease in resistivity with filler concentration compared to the conventional composite. The dielectric breakdown strength was also found to be higher for the nanocomposite at high filler concentration.

Silicon carbide (SiC) powder is used in nonlinear field grading materials. The composite material, consisting of an insulating polymer matrix filled with the SiC-grains, is usually a percolated system with established conducting paths. In order to explain the properties, the electrical characteristic and conduction mechanisms of the SiC powder itself are of interest. SiC powders have been studied by current–voltage measurements and the influences of grain size and doping have been investigated. The macroscopic current characteristics of green and black SiC powders can be described by the transport mechanisms at the grain contacts, which can be modeled by Schottky-like barriers. The SiC is heavily doped and tunneling by field emission is the dominating conduction mechanism over the major part of the nonlinear voltage range. It is suggested that preavalanche multiplication influences the current at the highest voltages, especially for p-type black SiC.

The electrical properties of a mixture of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber and silicon carbide (SiC) have been measured as a function of filler concentration. It was found that mixtures containing angular SiC grains have a conductivity that displays not one, but two percolation thresholds. Different types of contacts between the conducting particles, being represented by edge and face connections, respectively, can explain the phenomenon. The two percolation thresholds are obtained at volume fractions of about 0.25 and 0.40, respectively. These values are higher than those predicted by theory, which can be explained by dispersion effects with only one phase being granular and the other being continuous. The value of the conductivity at the central plateau was found to be close to the geometric mean of the limiting conductivities at low and high concentrations. This is in good agreement with theory. With rounded SiC grains only one threshold is obtained, which is consistent with only one type of contact. The concentration dependence of the conductivity was simulated using a three-dimensional impedance network model that incorporates both edge and face contacts. The double-threshold behaviour also appears in the calculations. By dispersing the conducting particles more evenly than random, the thresholds are shifted towards higher concentrations as observed in the experiments.