Effects of ZrO2 nanoparticles in XLPE on electrical treeing phenomena.

Underground cables collapse as an electrical treeing due to high-degradation phenomenon is one of the main elements of underground cables failures. In this research, Crosslink polyethylene (XLPE) electric tree features that includes zirconia nanoparticles ZrO2 was reported. The XLPE concentrations of nanoparticles ranged from 1wt.% and 3 wt.%. In this research. The electrode needle plane and the distance between electrodes was 3 mm. A digital camera and stereo microscope system have been used to track the electric tree pattern and the progress of XLPE; Results revealed that XLPE's tree initiation (TIV) voltage increased with increase concentration of nanoparticles. The tree growth expanding length and breakdown time (BDT) are also improving in comparison to unfilled XLPE. Potential explanations for improving tree growth and starting voltage as well as increasing the BDT of electrical tree by inserting nanoparticles are explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]