Voltage stabilizer and nanofiller in enhancement of insulation properties of cross‐linked polyethylene

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of voltage stabilizer and nanofiller addition on the insulation performance of the cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). The test samples of XLPE/stabilizer blends consisting of 1 wt% maminobenzoic acid, XLPE nanocomposites consisting of 0.5 wt% nano MgO and XLPE hybrid composite consisting of both voltage stabilizer and nanofillers were prepared. Various physicochemical and electrical properties were measured to analyze the performance of prepared samples. The obtained results show that the addition of nanofillers deteriorates the electrical insulation performance of the XLPE. On the other hand, the voltage stabilizer addition proves to be suitable for enhancing the electrical insulation performance of the XLPE. Meanwhile, the hybrid XLPE composites have shown medium behavior. The voltage stabilizer addition reduces, but the nanofillers increase the space charge density inside the XLPE compared to pure XLPE. It is also found that the dispersion of the voltage stabilizer in the material is uniform, whereas the nanofillers are aggregated. Furthermore, both additives slightly improve the thermal stability of the XLPE. The trap level theory based on quantum chemical calculation is proposed to explain the influence mechanism of the additives on the XLPE.

Design of voltage stabilizers for high breakdown strength materials

“…One approach to the development of new high breakdown strength material is compounding voltage stabilizer molecules into polyethylene, which can then be further crosslinked. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Chen and co-workers 7 have also tried to use nanofillers in cross-linked polyethylene and found that the addition of nanofillers typically will decrease the electrical insulation performance. The study of voltage stabilizers has a history of more than half a century.…”

“…Cross‐linked polyethylene is an important and widely utilized material for power transmission cables. One approach to the development of new high breakdown strength material is compounding voltage stabilizer molecules into polyethylene, which can then be further cross‐linked 2–9 . Chen and co‐workers 7 have also tried to use nanofillers in cross‐linked polyethylene and found that the addition of nanofillers typically will decrease the electrical insulation performance.…”

Highly insulating thermoplastic nanocomposites based on a polyolefin ternary blend for high-voltage direct current power cables

“…LDPE and XLPE feature values of σ DC ≥ 10 −14 S m −1 at 30 kV mm −1 and 70 °C, 10 which are common design parameters for the highest electric field stress and operating temperature that the insulation layer of an HVDC cable may experience. 8 Conductivity-reducing additives such as metal oxide nanoparticles, 11 organic semiconductors including fullerenes 12 and conjugated polymers, 13 aromatic voltage stabilizers, [14][15][16] as well as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) 10 can be added to the polyethylene-based insulation material to achieve a further reduction in σ DC . Moreover, the combination of different additives such as Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles and HDPE can give rise to a synergistic conductivity-reducing effect.…”