Influence of Nanoparticles on Dielectric Properties of High‐Voltage Epoxy‐Based Nanocomposite Insulators: Simulation and Experimental Analysis

There is a need to develop an improved insulating material that surpasses traditional insulators in terms of insulation and efficient operation under extreme weather conditions. Epoxy nanocomposites (NCs) have gained considerable attention due to their intrinsic material properties. This article focuses on investigating the impact of various nanoparticles, including TiO 2 , SiO 2 , Fe 3 O 4 , MgO, and Al 2 O 3 , when incorporated into neat epoxy resins (ERs) at different concentrations. To assess their suitability for practical use, the electrical and physical properties of these materials, such as AC breakdown voltage (BDV), relative permittivity, and thermal conductivity, are examined. To evaluate the insulating properties of the proposed nano‐filled solids, simulations are performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software. For the result validation, the performance of these nano‐filled base epoxy insulators is compared with conventional porcelain (sand, clay, kaolin, and feldspar) insulators as well as with neat ER insulators. The research also includes a practical synthesis of five types of NCs using (TiO 2 , MgO, Fe 3 O 4 , SiO 2 , and Al 2 O 3 ) and porcelain. The development of nano‐filled solids using neat ER takes place in the laboratory of Khwaja Fareed University in Pakistan. Several tests have been conducted in the lab to authenticate the usefulness of the proposed nano‐filled materials; in addition, a comparison has been made between simulation results and experimental findings. The overall results indicate that the proposed nano‐filled materials with a concentration of 0.002% w/v of titania (TiO 2 ) exhibit superior insulating properties. This makes them a viable alternative for insulating high‐voltage equipment.