Partial Discharge Activity During Electrical Tree Growth in Epoxy and its Nanocomposites

Epoxy resin is commonly used as an electrical insulation material in power cables, transformers, and other high-voltage equipment. However, defects and impurities incorporated during manufacturing might act as inception sites for electrical treeing. Initially, the tree channels may be small and filamentary. In this work, a study of PD in aged and unaged epoxy is presented in order to elucidate the manner in which PD within tree channels can lead to insulation deterioration and failure. Further, a comparative analysis of PD activity within electrical tree channels in pure epoxy and its nanocomposites is presented to understand how incorporation of nano-fillers might modify tree growth in epoxy resin. The results highlight the superior performance of nanocomposites in suppressing PD and mitigating electrical tree growth, demonstrating their potential as effective and better insulation.