Enhanced Electrical and Thermal Rating Materials for Renewable Power Cable Connections

The simultaneous improvement of electrical and thermal ratings of XLPE and thermoplastic based electrical insulation materials can be achieved reliably using nanocomposite formulations for power cable applications used in electrical power networks. This paper discusses the development of materials for two insulation exemplars in (i) crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) and (ii) a new generation of high thermal performance thermoplastic polymer blends based on polypropylene. Both employ hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), treated to promote exfoliation and surface modification, in order to optimize both the electrical and thermal properties of the materials. Through composites featuring homogeneously dispersed nano-h-BN, substantial enhancement in AC and DC electrical insulation performance was attained, with maintenance of other critical properties.