Space charge in polypropylene containing synthetic nano particles

Polypropylene is extensively used as a dielectric in power capacitors, electrical machines and transformers. It has excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties and provides outstanding resistance to moisture, grease, and oils. It does not present stress-cracking problems and at high temperatures it offers better thermal and chemical resistance than polyethylene. A thermoplastic such as polypropylene can be reinforced with small quantities of nanoparticles to not only achieve better chemical and thermal properties but also improved dielectric performance, such as high electrical breakdown strength, low surface and volume conductivity and resistance to partial discharges. The space charge properties of a structural nanocomposite based on layered synthetic silicate embedded in polypropylene (PP) are described in this paper. Electroluminescence emission, dissipation current measurement and pulsed electro-acoustic technique are employed to compare the properties of PP with and without the nanoparticles.