Nanocomposite polypropylene for DC cables and capacitors: A new European project

This paper presents the scientific background of a new European project, GRIDABLE, which was launched at the beginning of 2017 and has to deliver results in manufacturing and characterization of LV-MV capacitors and MV-HV cables for DC application. The innovation is in the development of nanostructured materials based on polypropylene and silica, and the relevant capacitor and cable manufacturing procedures. The initial results regarding the electrical properties of PP-SiO2 materials, which have brought to the proposal of this project, are presented in this paper, focusing on breakdown strength and space charge measurements performed on nanofilled PP films for capacitors.