Performance Evaluation of E-beam Irradiated Silicone Rubber Nano-Micro Composites: Surface, Electrical, and Physicochemical Characterization

This study examines the effects of electron beam (e-beam) irradiation on the surface, electrical, and physicochemical attributes of silicone rubber (SiR) micro/nano hybrid composites. The investigation delves into the application of ebeam irradiation technology in these composites, featuring microparticles of aluminum trihydrate (ATH) and nanoparticles of boron nitride (BN), representing a novel approach adopted in cable industries for cable development. Following synthesis, samples underwent 500 kGy e-beam treatment. Performance assessment post-irradiation involved atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle, surface potential, and water droplet-initiated corona inception voltage (CIV) measurements. Results reveal that SiR doped with micro-sized Aluminum Tri Hydrate (SMC) exhibited superior surface, electrical, and physicochemical properties following exposure to 500 kGy e-beam irradiation, surpassing both the unfilled (UnF) and Aluminum Tri Hydrate/Boron Nitride Nano-Micro Composite (SNMC). This study underscores the potential of e-beam irradiation in enhancing silicone rubber composite properties, thereby advancing cable development and other industrial applications.