Nanostructures and space charge characteristics of MgO/LDPE nanocomposites

The electrical properties of nanocomposites are closely related to their nanostructures. In order to investigate the nanostructures and space charge characteristics of magnesium oxide (MgO)/low-density polyethylene (LDPE), samples of LDPE with nano-MgO from 0.1 to 2.0 wt% are prepared, as well as pure LDPE. The nanostructures of nanocomposites are investigated by the technology of synchrotron radiation small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), and the space charge distributions in nanocomposites and LDPE are measured by the pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) method. Results of the synchrotron radiation SAXS experiments reveal that there is obvious interphase between the nano-MgO particle and the LDPE matrix, the thickness of which increases along with the increase in nano-MgO concentration. The agglomeration and mass fractal exist in all nanocomposites, and become more obvious at higher concentration. Results of space charge measurements indicate that the apparent trap-controlled mobilities and the apparent trap depths are respectively larger and smaller than those in LDPE during the initial phase of depolarization when the concentrations are 0.1 and 0.5 wt%, and are respectively smaller and larger than those in LDPE when the concentrations are 1.0 and 2.0 wt%. The space charge amount decreases after the addition of nano-MgO. This is mainly due to the introduction of shallow traps which promote the charge recombination in 0.1 and 0.5 wt% MgO/LDPE nanocomposites, and the introduction of deep traps which restrict the charge transportation in 1.0 and 2.0 wt% MgO/LDPE nanocomposites. The space charge characteristics of MgO/LDPE nanocomposites are explained combined with the nanostructures obtained from the synchrotron radiation SAXS experiments.