Electrical tree simulation and breakdown in nanocomposite polymers: The role of nanoparticles

Electrical treeing is a pre-breakdown mechanism, responsible for the long-term degradation of polymer insulation. In this study, the propagation of electrical tree in nanocomposite polymer has been investigated using D.I.M.E.T (Dielectric Inhomogeneity Model for Electrical Treeing), which simulates the growth of electrical tree based on Cellular Automata. It is demonstrated that a tree, which initiates from a high voltage electrode, delays to arrive at the opposite electrode causing breakdown, due to the nanoparticles. The latter seems to have a beneficial effect on both the propagation of electrical trees and the breakdown of the nanocomposite polymer.