Characteristics investigation of silicone rubber-based RTV/µATH@nSiO₂ micro/nano composites for outdoor high voltage insulation

Abstract

Polymer-based insulators offer major benefits as compared to customary insulators. In the current research, efforts are conducted to enumerate the effect of µATH (Micro Aluminum Trihydrate) and nSiO₂ (Nano silicon Di-oxide) fillers loading on to electrical, mechanical, thermal, and tracking resistance properties of Silicone Rubber-RTV/µATH@nSiO₂ micro/nano composites for high voltage insulation. The UV-vis and FESEM characterizations were conducted to see the optical behavior and uniform dispersion of all fillers into base material before and after mixing. The prepared composites A, B, and C with wt.% concentrations of the 100% Silicone rubber, (15 wt.%µATH@Silicone rubber), and (15 wt.% µATH@nSiO₂@Silicone rubber) respectively were tested for electrical, mechanical, thermal, and tracking resistance properties measurements. The characterization result for all samples A, B, and C indicates that all micro and nanocomposites had high voltage insulation characteristics with the loading of micro and nanofillers in pure silicone rubber. Silicone rubber was been mixed with varying concentrations of (15 wt.%µATH@Silicone rubber) and (15 wt.% µATH@nSiO₂@silicone rubber) by using a roll milling sulfur cure system. The outcome that arises from the present research highlighted that the dielectric breakdown has increased with micro and nanofiller loadings which are about 120KV, 179KV, and 190KV for samples A, B, and C correspondingly. Similarly, the surface resistivity was noticed (3.3 × 10^14, 5.5 × 10^14, and 8.4 × 10¹⁴) Ω/Square for all three samples A, B, and C sequentially. Also, the volume resistivity was been recorded as (1.14 × 10^14, 4.5 × 10^14, and 9.8 × 10¹⁴) Ω-cm-Square for all three samples accordingly. Based on all experimental results, it has been concluded that sample C with nSiO₂ fillers loadings showed improved electrical, mechanical, thermal, and tracking resistance properties as compares to other samples and suitable for high voltage outdoor applications.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

• Preparation of µATH@nSiO₂ based micro and nanocomposites for outdoor high voltage insulation.

• Preparation of silica rubber micro/nanocomposites by compounding techniques for insulation purposes.

• UV-vis and FESEM analysis was been comprehended to see optical effects and uniform dispersion

• Effects of µATH and nSiO₂ based nanocomposites on Electrical, Mechanical, and thermal properties of insulators.

• An erosion tracking test was conducted for micro and nanocomposites of Silica rubber-based insulators.

Keywords:

• SiO₂ nanoparticle
• aluminum tetra hydrate
• nanocomposites
• high voltage insulators
• tensile strength
• TGA analysis