Investigation of Insulation Characteristics of UV-A Stressed Polyamide Composite Insulation for High Voltage Cable Application

Polymeric insulators, especially polyamide (Nylon), are renowned for their flexibility, moisture and chemical resistance, and adaptability to different shapes. Polyamide insulation proves suitable for challenging conditions prevalent in electrical cables, such as high-temperature and harsh environments. To further enhance electrical and mechanical properties, nano-sized particles are introduced by incorporating zinc oxide with polyamide nanocomposites. This study seeks to investigate the electrical properties of these innovative nanocomposites under UV-A and electric stress. The experimental methodology involved fabricating polyamide samples, PA0, and varying the zinc oxide concentration from 1% (PA1) to 7% (PA7) in order to understand the impact of nanocomposite formulations on insulation performance. Employing an accelerated aging process, the samples' behavior was carefully monitored after every 100 cycles, enabling comprehensive comparisons between the aged and unaged counterparts. This result reveals that the samples with 1% and 3% of nanocomposites showed better electrical properties as compared to the other samples.