Effect of nanoparticle surface treatment on morphology, electrical and water treeing behavior of LLDPE composites

This paper reports on the role of silica nanoparticle surface treatment in affecting the morphology, charging current, frequency dependence of dielectric parameters, breakdown electric field and water treeing behaviors of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Octyl-trimethoxysilane was used as a silane coupling agent for the surface treatment of the silica nanoparticles. The composite sample with silane-treated nanoparticles shows improved dielectric properties when compared with the sample with unsurface-treated nanoparticles. However, although both types of silica nanoparticles show apparent water tree resistance in LLDPE, the sample with unsurface-treated nanoparticles shows shorter water tree length.