Spectroscopic, Mechanical and Electrical Studies on Surfactant Modified HTV-SiR/Nano Alumina Composites

Using an experimental approach, the effectiveness of nonionic surfactant, Triton™-X-100 in dispersing nano Alumina in high temperature vulcanized silicone rubber are studied in detail. Nanocomposites are prepared in varying concentrations of 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.2, 1, and 5 phr levels by weight of the surfactant. Evidence to moderate dispersion of nano Alumina for composites at 0.01 phr and 0.05 phr weight loadings is gained from SEM pictures. Structural changes observed for the composites in FTIR spectra are examined and peaks identified. Thermogravimetric analysis shows some improvement in thermal resistance. However, an adverse effect on properties, such as volume resistivity, surface resistivity and dissipation factor are observed even at low surfactant loadings. A plausible role of surfactant as a plasticizer is explained with respect to the results of tensile strength. From this work, it can be inferred that surfactant at 0.01 phr may be taken as an optimum loading concentration for a desirable level of electrical properties, without compromising on insulation characteristics of volume resistivity and dissipation factor. Nonetheless, utmost caution needs to be exercised while employing Triton™-X-100 in compositions prepared for insulation applications because of inadequacies in values of volume resistivity, surface resistivity, dissipation factor and dry arc resistance even at low loadings.