Free volume in nanodielectrics

J. Keith Nelson, Yanhui Huang, Timothy M. Krentz, Linda S. Schadler, Jerzy Dryzek, Brian C. Benicewicz, Michael Bell

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

    10 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    It is now well established that the incorporation of nanoparticulates into a polymer matrix to form a nanodielectric can bring about useful improvements in electric strength provided that the processing results in acceptable particle dispersion. One of the theories of electrical breakdown in polymers seeks to associate breakdown with the polymer free volume, and the well-documented substantial changes in electric strength occurring at glass transition provide some credence to that theory. While it is clear that interactions at the large internal interfacial area in a nanodielectric facilitate the augmentation of dielectric strength, the exact mechanism has not been clarified. Very early work using a compression methodology to estimate free volume in an epoxy nanodielectric indicated that the particles did little to affect free volume. However, this contribution seeks to use positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy to estimate free volume in an epoxy and several of its SiO2-based nanocomposites to estimate the changes in free volume brought about both through the incorporation of nanoparticulates and also through their functionalization. This study broadly confirms the earlier work and provides good evidence that the free volume is little affected, and thus is not an explanation for the observed change in dielectric strength.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Title of host publicationICPADM 2015 - 2015 IEEE 11th International Conference on the Properties and Applications of Dielectric Materials
    PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
    Pages40-43
    Number of pages4
    ISBN (Electronic)9781479989034
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Oct 8 2015
    Event11th IEEE International Conference on the Properties and Applications of Dielectric Materials, ICPADM 2015 - Sydney, Australia
    Duration: Jul 19 2015Jul 22 2015

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Properties and Applications of Dielectric Materials
    Volume2015-October

    Other

    Other11th IEEE International Conference on the Properties and Applications of Dielectric Materials, ICPADM 2015
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    CitySydney
    Period7/19/157/22/15

    Keywords

    • Nanodielectrics
    • electric strength
    • free volume
    • polymer composite

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
    • Condensed Matter Physics
    • Materials Chemistry

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