Modified propagating behavior of creeping streamers at TiO2 nanofluid/pressboard interface

Abstract Nanotechnology provides potential to improve the insulation properties of oil/pressboard system. In this paper, propagating properties of creeping streamer at the interface of the pure oil-impregnated pressboards (OIPs) and nanofluid-impregnated pressboards (NIPs) are measured by the shadowgraph method. The results show that TiO 2 nanoparticles significantly decelerate the propagation of creeping streamers. The decelerated creeping streamers are linked with the modification of streamer pattern, which is attributed to increased traps and reduction of permittivity mismatching coefficient of nanofluid/NIP. Increased trap density affects the electrodynamics of ionized charges involving in streamer propagation, therefore modifies the behavior of creeping streamers. Besides, the better permittivity matching, caused by additional polarization of TiO 2 nanoparticles, decreases the electrostatic attractive force to creeping streamers. The squeezing effect of creeping streamer is alleviated, resulting in a stronger shielding effect and decelerated propagation of creeping streamers at NIP's interface.