Enhancing dielectric properties: improved interfacial adhesion of polypropylene/ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene nanocomposites for power cables
Enhancing dielectric properties: improved interfacial adhesion of polypropylene/ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene nanocomposites for power cables
This work highlights the potential of polypropylene (PP) as a power cable insulation material by blending with ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), as well as blends filled with magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles. In PP/UHMWPE blends, increasing the UHMWPE content up to 50 weight percentage (wt.%) increases the number of interfaces between PP and UHMWPE, promoting heterogeneous surface nucleation and strengthening the interfacial adhesion. This enhanced interfacial adhesion in PP/UHMWPE blends results in improved dielectric properties, particularly reduced relative permittivity, suppressed charge accumulation, and decreased dc electrical conductivity. In PP/UHMWPE/MgO nanocomposites, MgO nanoparticles are primarily observed at the interface between PP and UHMWPE in the PP phase. The presence of MgO does not function as a nucleating agent; instead, it acts as a compatibilizer, promoting the dispersion of UHMWPE and enhancing the interfacial adhesion between both polymers. The improved dispersion of UHMWPE results in the nonformation of phase co-continuity within the PP matrix; consequently, adding MgO up to 3 wt.% is insufficient to establish the interfaces forming percolating pathways. Thus, the good dispersion and compatibilizing effect of MgO between the PP and UHMWPE interfaces enhance interfacial adhesion and further improve the dielectric properties compared to the unfilled PP/UHMWPE blend counterparts.
Compatibilizer, heterogeneous surface nucleation, interfacial adhesion, magnesium oxide, polypropylene (PP), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
190-197
Ketsamee, Phichet
320757bd-99cd-43d2-a8e8-b8100f15f461
Vaughan, Alun
6d813b66-17f9-4864-9763-25a6d659d8a3
Andritsch, Thomas
8681e640-e584-424e-a1f1-0d8b713de01c
February 2025
Ketsamee, Phichet
320757bd-99cd-43d2-a8e8-b8100f15f461
Vaughan, Alun
6d813b66-17f9-4864-9763-25a6d659d8a3
Andritsch, Thomas
8681e640-e584-424e-a1f1-0d8b713de01c
Ketsamee, Phichet, Vaughan, Alun and Andritsch, Thomas
(2025)
Enhancing dielectric properties: improved interfacial adhesion of polypropylene/ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene nanocomposites for power cables.
IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, 32 (1), .
(doi:10.1109/TDEI.2024.3413033).
Abstract
This work highlights the potential of polypropylene (PP) as a power cable insulation material by blending with ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), as well as blends filled with magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles. In PP/UHMWPE blends, increasing the UHMWPE content up to 50 weight percentage (wt.%) increases the number of interfaces between PP and UHMWPE, promoting heterogeneous surface nucleation and strengthening the interfacial adhesion. This enhanced interfacial adhesion in PP/UHMWPE blends results in improved dielectric properties, particularly reduced relative permittivity, suppressed charge accumulation, and decreased dc electrical conductivity. In PP/UHMWPE/MgO nanocomposites, MgO nanoparticles are primarily observed at the interface between PP and UHMWPE in the PP phase. The presence of MgO does not function as a nucleating agent; instead, it acts as a compatibilizer, promoting the dispersion of UHMWPE and enhancing the interfacial adhesion between both polymers. The improved dispersion of UHMWPE results in the nonformation of phase co-continuity within the PP matrix; consequently, adding MgO up to 3 wt.% is insufficient to establish the interfaces forming percolating pathways. Thus, the good dispersion and compatibilizing effect of MgO between the PP and UHMWPE interfaces enhance interfacial adhesion and further improve the dielectric properties compared to the unfilled PP/UHMWPE blend counterparts.
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More information
e-pub ahead of print date: 12 June 2024
Published date: February 2025
Keywords:
Compatibilizer, heterogeneous surface nucleation, interfacial adhesion, magnesium oxide, polypropylene (PP), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 510723
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/510723
ISSN: 1070-9878
PURE UUID: 0f22b103-7df6-4fda-b3d6-b808c07b1985
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Date deposited: 20 Apr 2026 16:38
Last modified: 21 Apr 2026 01:46
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Contributors
Author:
Phichet Ketsamee
Author:
Alun Vaughan
Author:
Thomas Andritsch
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