Nanofiller Dispersion in Polymer Dielectrics

Daniel Tan, Yang Cao, Enis Tuncer, Patricia Irwin

Dielectrics & Electrophysics Lab, GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, Schenectady, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/msa.2013.44A002                

Abstract

Nanodielectric composites have been developed in recent years attempting to improve the dielectric properties such as dielectric constant, dielectric strength and voltage endurance. Among various investigations, nanoparticle dispersion was particularly emphasized in this work. General Electric Global Research Center in Niskayuna NY USA has investigated various nanoparticles, nanocomposites and nanocomposite synthesis methods intending to understand particle dispersion and their impact on the nanocomposite dielectric properties. The breakdown strength and microstructures of the nanocomposites containing different particles were studied for projects related to capacitor and electrical insulation technologies. The nanocomposite synthesis methods either employed commerical nanoparticles or utilized nanoparticles that were self-assembled (in-situ precipitation) in a matrix. Our investigations have shown that nanocomposites prepared with solution chemistry were more favorable for producing uniform dispersion of nanoparticles. Structural information of nanocomposites was studied with transmission electron microscopy and the interection between particles and matrix polymers were tentatively probed using dielectric spectroscopy. In these new class of materials high energy densities on the order of 15J/cc were achievable in nanocomposites.

Keywords

Nanoparticles; Polymer; Dielectrics; Filler Dispersion; Dielectric Properties

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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