High-performance insulating materials with high breakdown strength and low permittivity for eco-friendly electrical...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• High-performance insulating materials are crucial for efficient and sustainable offshore wind energy systems.
• Nanoporous structures are known to enhance the dielectric strength of materials by inhibiting electron avalanche.
• Developing advanced dielectrics is key to improving the reliability and performance of electrical equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a novel polysiloxane nanoporous biopolymer insulating material (PNBIM).
• To evaluate the electrical insulating properties of PNBIM, particularly its breakdown electric strength.
• To investigate the impact of nanopores on the dielectric performance and discharge suppression.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a polysiloxane nanoporous biopolymer insulating material (PNBIM).
• Measurement of breakdown electric strength under a CO2 atmosphere.
• Characterization of dielectric properties including dielectric constant and loss.
• Assessment of hydrophobicity and thermal stability.

Main Results:

• PNBIM exhibited a remarkable 761.01% enhancement in breakdown electric strength compared to a pure gas gap under CO2.
• The material demonstrated a low dielectric constant (1.63) and dielectric loss (0.014).
• PNBIM showed high hydrophobicity and excellent thermal stability, attributed to its nanoporous structure.

Conclusions:

• The nanoporous structure of PNBIM effectively suppresses gas discharge, significantly improving breakdown electric strength.
• PNBIM is a promising high-performance insulating material for demanding applications like offshore wind power.
• This research provides valuable insights into designing advanced dielectric materials for electrical insulation.