Abstract
Abstract
This paper investigates the performance of novel nano ZnO filled polyamide nanocomposites under hydrothermal conditions for cable insulation applications. Neat polyamide (PA0) and its nanocomposite with 0 wt% (PA0), 1 wt% (PA1), 3 wt% (PA3), 5 wt% (PA5), and 7 wt% (PA7) of nano ZnO were prepared and subjected to accelerated hydrothermal aging conditions in a programmable chamber at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity for 300 h. The samples were analyzed with visual inspection, hydrophobicity evaluation, optical microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, leakage current and UV–vis spectroscopy after every 100 h of aging. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and x-ray Diffraction (XRD) were employed for analyzing filler dispersion. Maximum filler dispersion was achieved in the case of 3 wt% of nanofiller. All the samples expressed surface degradation and increase in leakage current after aging. Maximum surface roughness and highest leakage current of 7 μA were noticed for PA0, however PA3 expressed lowest leakage current and surface degradation. PA0 expressed the lowest hydrophobicity class of HC-3 and lowest contact angle of 75° after aging. Among the nanocomposites, PA3 expressed the highest hydrophobicity class (HC-1) and contact angle (112°) after aging. FTIR results expressed that all the samples suffered from oxidation and the C=O peaks at ∼1728 cm−1 increased by 120%, 100% and 120% for PA1, PA3 and PA7 respectively. The peaks of –OH group at ∼3500 cm−1 increased for all the sample indicating moister absorption. However, it is observed that the addition of nanofiller enhanced the overall performance of composites and among the composites PA3 performed better.