Effect of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on breakdown property and space charge distribution of propylene carbonate under high voltage impulse

Through breakdown tests, we find that propylene carbonate modified by Fe
3
O
4
nanoparticles exhibits higher impulse breakdown strength than pure propylene carbonate. To investigate the nanoparticle modification mechanisms, we measured the electric field and space charge distributions in propylene carbonate using Kerr electro-optic measurement method. The results indicate that the nanoparticles can capture the space charge injected from electrodes, converting the space charge to relatively slow-charged particles, which reduces the space charge density in liquid and inhibit the space charge transportation. Thus, the streamer propagation in propylene carbonate is hindered, and the impulse breakdown strength of propylene carbonate is improved.