Overview of Polymer Nanocomposites as Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Materials for Large High Voltage Rotating Machines

Abstract

Polymer nanocomposites are defined as polymers in which small amounts of nanometer size filers are homogeneously dispersed and will have a potential significant impact on materials mechanical, electrical and thermal properties etc. In power industry, electrical insulating polymers usually incorporate inorganic fillers to achieve specific electrical, mechanical, thermal properties and reduce cost. Therefore in recent years, the polymer based nanocomposites with excellent electrical and thermal properties have drawn more and more attention to the research and industry people in the field of dielectrics and electrical insulations, especially for large high voltage rotating machines such as Rotors and Generators. There is always a demand for materials engineers in this area to develop better electrical insulation systems that can operate at higher temperatures and grater electrical stress or to develop systems that can be made for significantly lower cost and higher efficiency. The progress, advantages, limitations, and current problems of using polymer nanocomposites as dielectric materials in high voltage generator applications will be discussed in this review. Several research groups worldwide have now been able to document some significant improvements that potentially can be made especially in the electrical and thermal properties of polymer nanocomposites through the incorporation of nanoparticulates. However, there is still a long way to go in terms of understanding the mechanisms of the enhancement effect in nano dielectric materials and its successful commercial applications in the power generation industry.