Evaluation of dielectric strength of SiR/TiO(2) composites using feed-forward neural network

• Published in: IET Nanodielectrics
• Main Authors: Shaymaa A. Qenawy, Loai S. Nasrat, Hanafy M. Ismail, Jeannette N. Asaad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 01.05.2020
• Subjects: composite insulating materials; dielectric applications; dielectric strength; electric strength; electrical properties; elongation; elongation at break tests; feed-forward neural network technique; feedforward neural nets; filled polymers; high-voltage outdoor insulation; insulating materials; insulator contamination; mechanical properties; micron-sized titanium dioxide; microtitanium dioxide; mixing; nanocomposites; nanofabrication; nanomechanics; nanosized titanium dioxide fillers; physics computing; polymeric materials; scanning electron microscopy; silicone rubber; silicone rubber-titanium dioxide composites; sir matrix; tensile strength; tio; titanium compounds
• ISSN: 2514-3255
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-nde.2020.0001

Among the recently insulating materials broadly utilized in high voltage outdoor insulation, silicone rubber (SiR) has gotten the foremost consideration. Actually, SiR is becoming an efficient countermeasure to insulator contamination issues. To enhance different properties of polymeric materials, micro- and nanofillers have been used for dielectric applications. In this study, micron-sized titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) and nano-sized TiO(2) fillers were added to the SiR matrix to improve electrical and mechanical properties. Dielectric strength, tensile strength, and elongation at break tests were monitored. Also, a scanning electron microscope was carried out. The samples were prepared by mixing micro-TiO(2) into SiR with the content of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt% and also mixing nano-TiO(2) into SiR with the content of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%. A feed-forward neural network technique was used to estimate the dielectric strength in different conditions and different percentages of fillers. Adding nano TiO(2) filler enhances the electrical and mechanical properties of SiR composites. SiR with 5 wt% nano TiO(2) showed the best improvement in electrical and mechanical properties.