Ageing Characteristics of Epoxy Nanocomposites doped with Silane functionalized Alumina Nanoparticles for High-Voltage Insulation Applications

• Published in: IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation Vol. 30; no. 5; p. 1
• Main Authors: Varghese, Jacob P., Haque, Nasirul, Sunitha, R., Preetha, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.10.2023; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: AC breakdown; ageing; Aging; Aluminum oxide; APTES; Bonding agents; Discharge; Electrical resistivity; epoxy alumina nanocomposites; Fourier transforms; GPTMS; High voltages; Infrared spectroscopy; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Permittivity; Reduction; resistivity; Rough surfaces; Silanes; Surface discharges; Surface impedance; surface partial discharge; Surface resistance; Surface resistivity; Surface roughness; surface-functionalization
• ISSN: 1070-9878; 1558-4135
• DOI: 10.1109/TDEI.2023.3298871

Performance analysis of epoxy nanocomposites under prolonged thermal and electrical stresses is vital for its use in high-voltage applications. In this regard, this work studies the influence of (3-Glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxy silane and (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxy silane (APTES) as surface-functionalization agents in enhancing the durability of epoxy alumina nanocomposites. To accomplish this, the experiments have been carried out by subjecting the samples to surface discharge ageing at 10 kV for a duration of 24 hours and thermal ageing at 100 °C for a period of 500 hours. The samples subjected to surface discharge ageing are characterized through permittivity, average partial discharge magnitude, surface-resistivity, Fourier-Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), and surface roughness measurements. Along with these, AC breakdown voltage of these samples; and changes in FTIR, permittivity and volume resistivity caused due to thermal ageing have also been found out. After surface discharge ageing experiments, epoxy filled with APTES-treated alumina nanoparticles has shown superior ageing resistance than all other samples; exhibiting 64 % reduction in surface roughness and 91 % reduction in average partial discharge magnitude, as compared to pure epoxy. Investigation results indicate that the bonds created by surface-functionalization agents and nanoparticles are crucial in improving the overall resistance of nanocomposite towards ageing.