Study of polarisation and conduction phenomena in nano-structured polypropylene

Polymeric insulations reinforced with particles of nanometric size have potential applications in electrical insulation. However, complex synthesis processes are necessary to obtain well dispersed particles in the matrix. Actually, modifications of the electrical properties associated with processing of the material, are far from being understood. In this work, charging-discharging currents are analyzed in polypropylene -PP-, compatibilized PP and PP-clay nanocomposites, with variable temperature and field. Nanocomposites exhibit higher transient and steady-state currents. The nature of the measured currents are tentatively interpreted in terms of polarization and transport contributions.