Phase Resolved Partial Discharge Patterns in Epoxy Nanocomposites

Incorporating nanoparticles into the epoxy matrix enhances its properties, including mechanical strength, thermal stability, and electrical insulation performance. Epoxy resin is commonly used as an electrical insulation material in power cables, transformers, and other high-voltage equipment. However, epoxy resin is not entirely free from defects and impurities during manufacturing. These imperfections act as inception sites for electrical treeing. Initially, the tree channels may be small and filamentary. However, with time and exposure to electrical stress, these channels can extend and branch out, forming tree like patterns. Continued PD activity within the channels can result in tree elongation and ultimately lead to electrical failure. Epoxy nanocomposites have gained prominence as the next-generation electrical insulating materials. The objective of this work is to present a comparative analysis of PD activity within electrical tree channels in pure epoxy and its nanocomposites, aged and unaged. The results highlight the superior performance of nanocomposites in suppressing PD and mitigating electrical tree growth, demonstrating their potential as effective and better insulation.