Effect of fabrication method on the physical properties of carbon-nanotube/silicone-rubber nanocomposite in high-voltage insulators

Effects of fog condensation and fine dust on the high-voltage insulator surface are harmful. The insulator housing material (silicone rubber) must be changed in order to allow a controlled leakage current to flow on the surface and causes Joule heating effect. Accordingly, surface temperature of the insulator is increased and fog condensation on the insulator surface is prevented. For this purpose, silicone rubber - multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) nanocomposites (SRCNT) were prepared using two different processes: a solution-blending (SB) method and a dry-state of melt-blending (MB) method. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) images indicated that the MWCNT dispersion in silicone rubber matrix of SRCNT samples produced by SB method is much better than that of MB method. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy determined the possibility of a greater reduction in hydrophobicity properties in the sample prepared by the SB method compared to the sample made by the MB method, and the contact angle measurements confirmed this expectation. Furthermore, in a same MWCNT concentration, the electrical conductivity of SRCNT samples prepared by SB method are greater than those produced by MB method. Results showed that MB is a high efficient method for producing the SRCNT in a large amount.