Investigation of Effect of Nano-filler Concentration on the Life Estimation of Polyamide-6 Nanocomposites

This paper presents an investigation to estimate the life of polyamide-6/Barium Titanate (PA6/BTO) nanocomposite insulation under high-voltage DC fields. The influence of nanofiller concentration on the breakdown process was analysed. The tests were conducted at different electric fields under constant controlled thermal stress conditions. These tests were carried out above the glass transition temperature. The time to breakdown was analysed in terms of a two-parameter Weibull distribution. There is a drastic reduction in sample life as the electric field increases, particularly at 90kV/mm. Nanofiller concentrations between 1% and 10% have little effect upon lifetime but when the concentration reaches 20% there is a drastic reduction of the insulation life in the experimental field range of 90 kV/mm to 70 kV/mm.