A Review of the Effect of Nanoparticles on the Improvement of Mechanical and Dielectric Properties of Polyvinyl Chloride, Nanodielectric Polymer, in Wire and Cable Insulation

Due to its resistance to flame and chemicals, PVC has been widely used as an electrical insulation material for wires and outer sheathing of cables. During normal operation, underground power cables are subjected to various stresses such as exposure to heat, humidity, and mechanical stress, which lead to changes in insulation properties and deterioration over time. Polymer nanodielectric materials refer to polymer nanocomposites that have several weight fractions of inorganic particles with nanometer dimensions. Dispersing these tiny nanoparticles with polymeric materials resulted in significant improvements in both dielectric and thermal properties, which in turn makes polymer nanocomposites the most popular term in the dielectric community. To optimize these novel properties, the dispersion of nanoparticles within polymeric matrices should be enhanced, and this can be achieved by chemical functionalization of nanoparticles surfaces using silanes or polyalcohol as coupling agents. This functionalization will result in changing the chemistry of nanoparticles to be compatible with that of polymers, and to reduce their agglomeration within polymer matrix. In the present study, the results of the researchers' studies on the dielectric properties such as relative electrical permeability, dielectric loss and mechanical properties such as tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of PVC used in insulation of wires and cables due to the introduction of metal oxide nanoparticles and some of their important results have been discussed.