Analysis of Selected Dielectric Properties of Epoxy-Alumina Nanocomposites Cured at Stepwise Increasing Temperatures

The paper presents the effects of gradual temperature curing on the dielectric properties of epoxy nanocomposite samples. Samples were prepared based on Class H epoxy resin filled with nano-alumina (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) for different wt% loadings (0.5 wt% to 5.0 wt%)...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anna Dąda, Paweł Błaut, Maciej Kuniewski, Paweł Zydroń
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/5/2091
_version_ 1797615453770612736
author Anna Dąda
Paweł Błaut
Maciej Kuniewski
Paweł Zydroń
author_facet Anna Dąda
Paweł Błaut
Maciej Kuniewski
Paweł Zydroń
author_sort Anna Dąda
collection DOAJ
description The paper presents the effects of gradual temperature curing on the dielectric properties of epoxy nanocomposite samples. Samples were prepared based on Class H epoxy resin filled with nano-alumina (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) for different wt% loadings (0.5 wt% to 5.0 wt%) and two different filler sizes (13 nm and <50 nm), i.e., two different specific surface area values. During the research, specimen sets were cured gradually at increasingly higher temperatures (from 60 °C to 180 °C). Broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) was used to determine the characteristics of the dielectric constant and the dielectric loss factor in the frequency range from 10<sup>−3</sup> Hz to 10<sup>5</sup> Hz. As a result, it was possible to analyze the impact of the progressing polymer structure thermosetting processes on the observed dielectric parameters of the samples. The nano-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> addition with 0.5 wt%, 1.0 wt%, and 3.0 wt% resulted in a decrease in dielectric constant values compared to neat epoxy resin samples. The most significant reductions were recorded for samples filled with 0.5 wt% of 13 nm and <50 nm powders, by about 15% and 11%, respectively. For all tested samples, the curing process at a gradually higher temperature caused a slight decrease in the dielectric constant (approx. 2% to 9%) in the whole frequency range. Depending on the nanofiller content and the curing stage, the dielectric loss factor of the nanocomposite may be lower or higher than that of the neat resin. For all tested samples cured at 130 °C (and post-cured at 180 °C), the differences in the dielectric loss factor characteristics for frequencies greater than 100 Hz are low. For frequencies < 100 Hz, there are prominent differences in the characteristics related to the size of the nanoparticle and the individual wt% value. At a small nanofiller amount (0.5 wt%), a decrease in the dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor was observed for frequencies < 100 Hz for samples with nanofillers of both sizes.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T07:26:33Z
format Article
id doaj.art-725f594d4f664aa5901fc0590899845e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1996-1073
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T07:26:33Z
publishDate 2023-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Energies
spelling doaj.art-725f594d4f664aa5901fc0590899845e2023-11-17T07:34:03ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-02-01165209110.3390/en16052091Analysis of Selected Dielectric Properties of Epoxy-Alumina Nanocomposites Cured at Stepwise Increasing TemperaturesAnna Dąda0Paweł Błaut1Maciej Kuniewski2Paweł Zydroń3AGH Doctoral School, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, PolandAGH Doctoral School, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, PolandDepartment of Electrical and Power Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, PolandDepartment of Electrical and Power Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, PolandThe paper presents the effects of gradual temperature curing on the dielectric properties of epoxy nanocomposite samples. Samples were prepared based on Class H epoxy resin filled with nano-alumina (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) for different wt% loadings (0.5 wt% to 5.0 wt%) and two different filler sizes (13 nm and <50 nm), i.e., two different specific surface area values. During the research, specimen sets were cured gradually at increasingly higher temperatures (from 60 °C to 180 °C). Broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) was used to determine the characteristics of the dielectric constant and the dielectric loss factor in the frequency range from 10<sup>−3</sup> Hz to 10<sup>5</sup> Hz. As a result, it was possible to analyze the impact of the progressing polymer structure thermosetting processes on the observed dielectric parameters of the samples. The nano-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> addition with 0.5 wt%, 1.0 wt%, and 3.0 wt% resulted in a decrease in dielectric constant values compared to neat epoxy resin samples. The most significant reductions were recorded for samples filled with 0.5 wt% of 13 nm and <50 nm powders, by about 15% and 11%, respectively. For all tested samples, the curing process at a gradually higher temperature caused a slight decrease in the dielectric constant (approx. 2% to 9%) in the whole frequency range. Depending on the nanofiller content and the curing stage, the dielectric loss factor of the nanocomposite may be lower or higher than that of the neat resin. For all tested samples cured at 130 °C (and post-cured at 180 °C), the differences in the dielectric loss factor characteristics for frequencies greater than 100 Hz are low. For frequencies < 100 Hz, there are prominent differences in the characteristics related to the size of the nanoparticle and the individual wt% value. At a small nanofiller amount (0.5 wt%), a decrease in the dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor was observed for frequencies < 100 Hz for samples with nanofillers of both sizes.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/5/2091electrical insulationnanodielectricsnanocompositesepoxy resinnanofilleralumina
spellingShingle Anna Dąda
Paweł Błaut
Maciej Kuniewski
Paweł Zydroń
Analysis of Selected Dielectric Properties of Epoxy-Alumina Nanocomposites Cured at Stepwise Increasing Temperatures
Energies
electrical insulation
nanodielectrics
nanocomposites
epoxy resin
nanofiller
alumina
title Analysis of Selected Dielectric Properties of Epoxy-Alumina Nanocomposites Cured at Stepwise Increasing Temperatures
title_full Analysis of Selected Dielectric Properties of Epoxy-Alumina Nanocomposites Cured at Stepwise Increasing Temperatures
title_fullStr Analysis of Selected Dielectric Properties of Epoxy-Alumina Nanocomposites Cured at Stepwise Increasing Temperatures
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Selected Dielectric Properties of Epoxy-Alumina Nanocomposites Cured at Stepwise Increasing Temperatures
title_short Analysis of Selected Dielectric Properties of Epoxy-Alumina Nanocomposites Cured at Stepwise Increasing Temperatures
title_sort analysis of selected dielectric properties of epoxy alumina nanocomposites cured at stepwise increasing temperatures
topic electrical insulation
nanodielectrics
nanocomposites
epoxy resin
nanofiller
alumina
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/5/2091
work_keys_str_mv AT annadada analysisofselecteddielectricpropertiesofepoxyaluminananocompositescuredatstepwiseincreasingtemperatures
AT pawełbłaut analysisofselecteddielectricpropertiesofepoxyaluminananocompositescuredatstepwiseincreasingtemperatures
AT maciejkuniewski analysisofselecteddielectricpropertiesofepoxyaluminananocompositescuredatstepwiseincreasingtemperatures
AT pawełzydron analysisofselecteddielectricpropertiesofepoxyaluminananocompositescuredatstepwiseincreasingtemperatures