Optimal percentage natural rubber blends with Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) for breakdown voltage (BDV) improvement

• Published in: The 2nd IEEE Conference on Power Engineering and Renewable Energy (ICPERE) 2014 pp. 61 - 65
• Main Authors: Muhamad, N. A., Suleiman, A. A., Ishak, Mohd Fazlie
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.12.2014
• Subjects: breakdown voltage (BDV); Conferences; Deproteinized Natural Rubber (DPNR); Electric breakdown; Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE); Polyethylene; Rubber; Standard Malaysia Rubber (SMR 10); Tensile Strength
• DOI: 10.1109/ICPERE.2014.7067244

Solid insulators made of paper, glass or polymeric are some of the critical materials found in electrical power systems to prevent the flow of charges in undesirable paths. Understanding the behavior of these insulators is therefore important because it enables engineers and electrical equipment designers to develop good solid electrical insulators. In this research, we have studied three solid insulating materials; pure Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Standard Malaysia Rubber (SMR 10) and Deproteinized Natural Rubber (DPNR). The study is aimed at understanding behavior when this material is combined. In this project, LDPE was selected as based material and was blended with 0 to 30% of SMR 10 or 0 to 30% of DPNR. The breakdown voltage and tensile strength test were done to determine the dielectric and mechanical strength of the pure and blended materials. The result shows that the electrical strength of LDPE increases as the ratio of adding SMR 10 or DPNR is increased. This discovery proves that the electrical performance of LDPE is better when it is blended with SMR 10 or DPNR. As for mechanical strength, it was found that the strength of LDPE was not affected by increasing the ratio of SMR 10, however it reduced when the ratio of DPNR increases. This study concludes that the use of SMR 10 can improve the electrical performance of LDPE without reducing its mechanical strength. However, the use of DPNR has the disadvantage of reducing the mechanical strength of LDPE even though it increases it electrical breakdown value. As a conclusion, LDPE is better improved by blending it with 0 to 30 % SMR 10 for the electrical insulation purposed.