Linear low-density polyethylene/silicone rubber nanocomposites

This study determines the applicability of nanofillers (silica, boron nitride, and zinc oxide) in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/silicone rubber (SR) insulation compounds. Design of experiment is adopted to model the relationship between the properties (permittivity, loss tangent, dielectric strength, and volume resistivity) and factors (SR content, type of nanofiller, and nanofiller loading) for performance optimization. It is observed that SR content and type of nanofiller significantly influence the electrical properties of LLDPE/SR nanocomposites. Nanofiller loading, however, causes a small variation in the properties of the nanocomposites except for dielectric strength. From the optimization, it is found that the optimum formulation composition is 10 wt% of SR and 2 vol% of nanoboron nitride.