Partial Discharge Characteristics and Residual Breakdown Strength of Natural Nanofilled Polypropylene Films when aged with different voltage profiles

摘要

It is known from literature that several electrical characteristics such as partial discharge resistance and breakdown strength of polypropylene films can be improved by homogeneous dispersion of nanofillers into the polymer matrix. In this work, effect of variation in aging voltage on partial discharge characteristics of PP and its remnant breakdown strength after aging with partial discharges are investigated for unfilled (PP+0%) and natural nanofilled PP (PP+2% & PP+6%). Using partial discharge measurement set up, several AC voltages (multiples of inception voltage, V_i) were applied to each sample for a duration of two hours and partial discharge parameters were continuously acquired. After the completion of partial discharge measurement experiments, surface erosion of aged PP samples were measured using profilometer to investigate effects of change in applied voltage and nanofillers concentrations on the partial discharge resistance of polypropylene samples. Comparison of partial discharge characteristics of all imaged and aged is done and the results of our findings are explained.