Investigation on breakdown properties of low-density polyethylene / nano-ZnO composites

The dielectric properties of Nano-composites has attract tremendous attention during the past decade. In present paper, the silane coupling agent (KH-570) and titanate coupling agent (105, 101, TC-F) is used as modifiers. The nanometer zinc oxide which has been modified by KH-570 or TC-F etc is added to the low density polyethylene. In the end, the electrical breakdown properties of the composites are investigated. The test results show that when the content of nano-ZnO was 3%, breakdown field strength of the composites is higher than origin LDPE 11%. The smaller ZnO particles in size, the higher breakdown strength of the nano-composite with the same content of nano-ZnO is. The breakdown strength of nano-composites with nano-ZnO which is treated by silane coupling agent (KH-570) is higher than those with nano-ZnO treated by titanate coupling agent. It can be found that combination of nanometer zinc oxide and polyethylene macromolecular chain is effectively improved by infrared spectrum.