Glass fiber network reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composites for support insulators

Abstract

Epoxy resin has long been used as insulating materials in high voltage apparatus, while its poor recyclability greatly limits its future application. The fiber network reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET), as a low-cost and recyclable material, owns great potential to substitute epoxy resin as high voltage insulation materials. The enhancement fiber network combined with PET matrix construct a simi-“steel reinforced concrete” structure, and can collaboratively improve tensile strength by more than 50% and dielectric strength by 25.4%. Furthermore, the breakdown path as well as the fiber distribution is clearly rebuilt in 3D coordinate based on 3D X-ray microscope for the first time. Experimental and computational evidences both show the fiber network lengthens the breakdown path and improve dielectric strength eventually. This work provides new perspectives for subsequent research on the electrical properties of bone enhanced dielectric polymer composite.