Influence of Nanoparticles on Electrical Treeing in Epoxy Based Dielectrics

The degradation occurring in epoxy nanocomposites due to electrical treeing has been studied through a simulation using cellular automata models. Epoxy nanocomposites containing alumina, zinc oxide and titania nanofillers, each with weight proportions of 1%, 2% and 5% are subjected to study along with pure epoxy. The simulation has been carried out by inserting the dielectric material between needle and plane electrodes to which a DC voltage has been applied. Changes in treeing pattern in the material with different types of nanofillers of various weight proportions have been investigated in detail. The length of the tree developed in the material and the area of degradation have been measured to determine the extent of degradation taking place in the epoxy nanocomposites. Simulation results reveal that the nanoparticles hinder the tree propagation in epoxy nanocomposites considerably. The degradation is seen to be minimum for nanocomposite containing alumina nanofiller followed by that with zinc oxide while the increase in weight proportions from 1% to 5% helps decrease the extent of degradation for all the three nanofillers.