Sustainable cellulose nanofibers/basalt nanoscales composite toward high-performance insulation paper

Cellulose is widely utilized in the power industry due to its abundant sources and excellent properties. However, with advancements in modern electrical engineering, traditional cellulose-based insulation materials are facing higher performance demands. Herein, a novel composite filler was developed to improve performance in cellulose insulation materials. By co-grinding cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and basalt scales (BS), this process not only promotes the exfoliation of basalt nanoscales (BNs), but also enhances the interfacial bonding to form a composite structural filler. Furthermore, the unique "brick-and-mortar" structure of the cellulose nanofibers-basalt nanoscales (CNF/BNs) composite filler endowed the paper with outstanding tensile strength (102.53 MPa) and breakdown strength (68.68 kV/mm). As an eco-friendly and high-performance composite filler, CNF/BNs offer great potential for applications in high-power electrical equipment.