Understanding the fundamental properties of epoxy molybdenum disulfide nanocomposites

The surface discharge inception voltage (SDIV) of epoxy MoS₂ nanocomposite is high under DC voltage compared to AC voltages. It is also observed that SDIV increases up to 0.5 wt% of MoS₂ added epoxy resin and above which a marginal reduction in SDIV is observed. Surface charge accumulation is less with epoxy nanocomposite compared with epoxy resin. With increase in percentage of MoS₂, complete reduction in charge retention time is observed. Surface roughness measurement with the surface discharge caused damage zone with epoxy nanocomposites indicate that surface roughness is less when the percentage of MoS₂ is increased and above certain weight percentage, the surface roughness is almost same. Epoxy nanocomposites show a marginal increase in contact angle with increase in weight percentage of molybdenum disulfide. LIBS studies indicate that the crater depth and the plasma temperarure measured is low for epoxy nanocomposites with 0.5 wt% MoS₂. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:1556–1563, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers