2014 International Conference on Circuit, Power and Computing Technologies [ICCPCT]
Investigations on Critical Parameters of Nano Solid
Dielectrics for the Optimized Function of Power
Transformer
Chandini. G
PG Scholar,
Department of EEE,
National Engineering College,
Kovilpatti, TamilNadu, India.
chandiniguna@gmail.com
Abstract—In recent years solid dielectrics are more
commonly used as insulation for electrical equipment, as
these solid dielectric elements have the properties to
withstand high electric field. The properties of solid
dielectric elements shall be further improved by
reinforcing nano particles. This work investigates the
enhancement of critical parameters of solid dielectrics
using nano particles for the optimized function of power
transformer. Nano solid dielectric materials are
composed of epoxy resin and nano particles such as
alumina (Al2O3). The nano particles are added at
different volume fractions of 0.5% and 1% with epoxy
resin. The electrical and mechanical characteristics of
the solid nano dielectric materials impregnated in
insulating mineral oil and without mineral oil are
investigated. The critical parameters such as breakdown
strength, resistivity and tensile strength are measured.
The tests are conducted in accordance with IS and
ASTM standards.
Keywords__ Epoxy, nano materials, dielectrics, break down
voltage, resistivity. Liquid dielectrics, tensile strength.
1. INTRODUCTION
Epoxy materials are most commonly used insulating
material for several electrical applications, mainly for power
transformers, bushings etc. Recently, epoxy materials
reinforced with nano particles are highly used for their
improved electrical and mechanical characteristics. The
reinforcement of nano fillers obtain several advantages
result in their properties when compared with similar
properties obtained for epoxy systems with micrometer
sized fillers [1].
Nanocomposite insulation materials are composed
of polymers with nano-size fillers uniformly dispersed in
them. The uniform dispersion is essential because, without
uniform dispersion, the nano particles losses its properties.
Heating the nano particles prior to the synthesis of the nano
composite makes the interphase region thicker and lowers
its permittivity slightly [3].
978-1-4799-2397-7/14/$31.00 ©2014 IEEE
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Dr. R. Karthik
Liquid Dielectrics Laboratory
Department of EEE,
National Engineering College,
Kovilpatti, TamilNadu, India.
hvekarthik@gmail.com
It has been reported that nanocomposite insulation
materials are superior to conventional insulation material in
their basic characteristics, such as electric, mechanical, and
thermal[1,2].
The electrical properties of the nano solid dielectric
material are improved by the addition of small volume
fraction of nanoparticles. Also at higher volume fraction of
nanoparticles, agglomeration sets in and creates regions of
higher [3]. To avoid agglomeration low concentration of
nano fillers are always used. Uniform dispersion of the
nanofillers in the polymer matrix is essential [4]. In order to
obtain uniform dispersion ultra Sonicator is used. The solid
dielectrics are prepared with low filler concentration and it
is made to undergo various testing. From the results
obtained, the differences in the electrical properties of the
various dielectric samples are investigated.
In this paper, various critical parameters of nano
solid dielectric materials are analyzed for the optimized
function of power transformer.
2. EXPERIMENT DETAILS
2.1 Materials
The base material used in this project to produce
solid dielectric specimen is Epoxy resin. Epoxy, one of the
most widely used insulating materials in the electrical
industry is used as a base polymer material, Epoxy resin
(Bisphenol-A type) prepared from Araldite LY556 (density
1.17 g/cm3). The hardener HY917 (density 0.98 g/cm3 at
25ºC). For processing this sample using epoxy resin and
hardener, 100 parts by weight of resin is mixed with and 25
parts by weight of hardener. The epoxy resin system is
widely used in practice and has advantage of low viscosity
at room temperature. Nano alumina of diameter 30-40nm,
99.8% purity, density of 3.97 g/cm3, melting point 2040C is
used. For proper mixing of nano elements and base,
ultrasonicator is used. Desired amount of Al2O3 were
completely dispersed in epoxy by ultra sonicator.
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 2014 International Conference on Circuit, Power and Computing Technologies [ICCPCT]

2.2 Sample preparation

The plain epoxy sample is made by mixing epoxy

and hardener in 10:1 ratio (by weight), and it is mixed by
using Ultrasonicator and then poured into the moulds
prepared using glass plates and foam sheets with film spacer
in the middle. The thickness of epoxy specimens is
controlled by the thickness of the spacer. Here thickness
used is 2mm. For the free removal of specimen from the
moulds after curing, both the surface was applied with a
very thin layer of wax.
The samples incorporated with nano particles are
prepared as follows, the nano particles are taken in 0.5% or
1% by volume as required and mixed with plain epoxy.
They are stirred mechanically. The mixture is then sonicated
using Ultrasonicator shown in figure 1. The sonication is Figure 2 Preparation of mould using glass plate and
done in order to obtain uniform dispersion of nano particles. foam sheet
The same procedure is repeated for the preparation of
samples with various proportion of nano element.

Figure 1- Ultra sonicator Figure 3 Injection of mixed elements in the moulds

prepared
After sonication done for 30 minutes, hardener is
poured into them in 10:1 ratio and stirred mechanically.
Moulds are prepared using glass plated and foam sheets in
required shape and thickness as shown in figure 2. The
prepared mixture is then injected into the moulds and kept
to dry for 24 hours. After removed from moulds, the
required samples are obtained as shown in figure 3.
The various electrical and mechanical testing are
made in these samples. The specimen with best proportion
is determined by comparing the result. The step by step
processes involved in the preparation of samples are shown
in figure 2, 3, and 4.

Figure 4 Obtained sample

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 2014 International Conference on Circuit, Power and Computing Technologies [ICCPCT]
2.3 Testing
The obtained specimens are subjected to various
electrical and mechanical test such as breakdown strength,
partial discharge, tensile withstand capability, volume
resistivity, surface resistivity hardness and tensile strength.
The breakdown strength and partial discharges are measured
by placing the sample between the electrodes (Rod to Rod
arrangement). The electrical and mechanical characteristics
of the material immersed in oil and without immersed in oil
are investigated. The oils used are mineral oil and ester oil.
To determine the electrical properties of the sample
immersed in oil, the sample is placed inside the closed
chamber containing mineral oil. The setups for the testing of
samples are shown in figure 5 and 6.
Figure 5 rod to rod arrangement for testing in air medium
Figure 6 Rod to Rod arrangement for testing the samples
impregnated in oil
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The mechanical testing includes hardness and
tensile properties. The hardness of the samples is measured
using ASTM-D224O standard. The tensile property
includes breaking load, elongation at break, percent
elongation and tensile strength. Test results are obtained
using ASTM-D638 standard.
3. RESULTS AND DISSCUSSION
This chapter presents the results and discussion of
dielectric properties of the samples. The electrical and
mechanical parameters of epoxy resin with addition of
various percent of Nano elements are determined. The
critical parameters like breakdown voltage, dielectric
strength of various samples are established. Resistivity such
as surface resistivity and volume resistivity are also
measured. The mechanical properties such as tensile
withstand capability hardness of various Nano solid
Dielectric samples are determined.
3.1 Breakdown strength
The high voltage is applied on the plain epoxy
sample by using electrode arrangement until breakdown
occurs. The same testing procedure is also done for
determining the dielectric strength of the entire specimen
while impregnated with oil and results are tabulated.
Table 1 Breakdown strength of various samples
Sl. no Description Breakdown
strength
(kV)
1 Plain Epoxy 27.5
2 Plain Epoxy immersed in oil 39.3
3 Epoxy +0.5% Al2O3 29.5
4 Epoxy +0.5% Al2O3immersed in oil 41
5 Epoxy + 1 % Al2O3 31
6 Epoxy + 1 % Al2O3immersed in oil 50
From the above results it has been inference that
the specimen incorporated with nano particles (0.5% and
1% by volume) shows better breakdown strength when
compared with plain epoxy materials.
It clearly depicts that the samples containing nano
aluminium particles have better dielectric strength while
compared with other samples without nano particles. The
graph plotted is shown in figure 7.
 2014 International Conference on Circuit, Power and Computing Technologies [ICCPCT]

Figure 7 comparison of dielectric strength obtained

from various samples

3.2 RESISTIVITY

Various resistivity such as surface resistivity and Figure 8 Surface resistivity at various weight % of
volume resistivity of plain epoxy resin, epoxy resin with nano alumina
0.5% alumina and epoxy resin with 1% alumina are
measured. Resistivity is measured using ASTM-
D257standard.To make accurate comparisons to a specific
test, the applied voltage, electrification time, and
environmental conditions should be kept constant from
one test to other.
A commonly used test condition is voltage of 500V
applied for 60 seconds. Depending upon the application,
the volume or the surface resistivity, or both, is measured
[5].

Table 2 Resistivity of various samples

Sl. Description Surface Volume

no. resistivity resistivity
(Ω X1010) (ΩcmX1010)
1 Plain Epoxy 189.9 780

2 Epoxy+0.5% 195 820

Al2O3 Figure 9 Volume resistivity at various weight % of
nano alumina
3 Epoxy+1%Al2O3 211.5 848.8
3.3 HARDNESS

The hardness comes under mechanical property. In

It clearly depicts that the samples containing nano
aluminium particles have better surface resistivity and
volume resistivity while compared with other samples
without nano particles. The graph plotted for surface
resistivity and volume resistivity are shown in figure 8 and 9
respectively.
hardness testing, the specimens prepared are tested under
ASTM- D2240 standard. The relative humidity is 50% and
the test is carried out under e room temperature of 23ºC.
The result obtained shows that, the specimen with 1%
alumina gives better performance. The results obtained are
shown in table 3.

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 2014 International Conference on Circuit, Power and Computing Technologies [ICCPCT]

length and width of the samples are taken into account. The
Table 3 Hardness of various samples results obtained are shown in table 4.

Sl. no. Description Hardness (Shore D) Table 4 Tensile properties of various samples
1 Plain Epoxy 83
Wt Breaking Elongation Percent Tensile
2 Epoxy+0.5% Al2O3 87 % Load (n) at Break Elongation strength
3 Epoxy+1% Al2O3 90 (mm) (%) (kg/sq.cm)

From the test results it clearly infers that the

sample with 1% of nano alumina have better performance 0 980 2 7 340
than other samples. The graph plotted between hardness and .5 1098 3 9.0 400
various weight percent of nano alumina is shown in figure
10 1 1168 3 10.0 466.9

The results illustrates that mechanical properties

are greater in the samples incorporated with nano alumina
than samples without nano particles. The comparatives
graph drawn is shown in figure 11.

Figure 10 Hardness at various weight percent of nano

alumina

The above graph clearly infers that the sample with

0.5 % nano alumina and 1% nano alumina have better
hardness property than the other samples. The material with Figure 11 Hardness and Tensile strength at various
greater hardness shows greater resistance to deformation. weight percent of nano alumina
The sample incorporated with nano alumina has better
hardness and so it has better resistance to deformation. The graph has been plotted for elongation and the
load for the samples without nano alumina and the sample
3.4 TENSILE PROPERTIES with 1% nano alumina which is shown in figure 12 and 13
respectively.
Tensile properties include breaking load,
elongation at break, percent elongation and tensile strength.
All the specimens are made to undergo tensile tests. The
tensile strength of these samples is measured under ASTM-
D638 standard. While measuring tensile properties, the

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 2014 International Conference on Circuit, Power and Computing Technologies [ICCPCT]
Figure 12 variation of tensile strength of sample
with plain epoxy
Figure 13 Variation of tensile strength of sample
with 1% nano alumina
From the graph it infers that elongation is less in
the sample without nano alumina shown in figure 12. The
elongation is increased to larger extent in the sample with
addition of 1% of nano alumina particle, shown in figure 13.
As the elongation increases the ability of breaking
decreases. The ability of elongation has been improved by
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the addition of nano particles. Thus the addition of nano
particles in the solid dielectric material shows better
performance than plain dielectric materials.
4. CONCLUSIONS
In this research work, various properties of nano
solid dielectrics are investigated. The nano particle used is
Al2O3. The property of solid dielectric varies if even a small
volume fraction (0.5% and 1%) of nano particles are added.
The dielectric strength of nano solid dielectric varies with
the surrounding medium. The dielectric strength of solid
dielectric increases when sample is immersed in liquid
Dielectrics.
From the result we shall infer that a nano particle
plays an important role in improving the properties of solid
dielectrics. Resistivity, breakdown strength, tensile strength
and hardness were considerably improved even if a small
volume fraction (0.5% and 1%) of nano particles are added.
Results of plain epoxy sample and nano particles added
samples are compared. The combination of epoxy resin and
1% Nano Alumina shows better performance while
compared to other polymer combination. It surely paves
path for better insulation property while using nano
materials along with traditional polymer insulation
materials.
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