Effect of Nanocellulose Reinforcement on The Structural,Dielectric, and Electrical Breakdown of Epoxy Nanocomposites
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the influence of nanocellulose (NC) on the dielectric and electric field properties of epoxy-based nanocomposites for high-voltage insulation applications. Two types of NC, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF), were incorporated into an epoxy matrix at loadings of 0.5–5.0 wt.%. Morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform dispersion at low concentrations and increasing agglomeration at higher loadings, particularly in CNF due to its fibrous structure. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that composites containing 1.0 wt.% CNC and 0.5 wt.% CNF achieved optimal dielectric performance, with reduced relative permittivity (εᵣ ≈ 5.07 for CNC and 5.57 for CNF), suppressed conductivity, and stable capacitive behaviour. COMSOL simulations supported these findings, demonstrating reduced peak electric field intensity (25.8 MV/m) at optimal loadings, indicating improved field uniformity. Breakdown strength tests further confirmed the trend, with CNC at 1.0 wt.% exhibiting 57.9 kV/mm (39% higher than neat epoxy) and CNF at 0.5 wt.% showing 46.7 kV/mm (12% higher than neat epoxy). At higher loadings, aggregation increased permittivity, field crowding, and dielectric loss, leading to reduced insulation performance. Overall, CNC provided broader reinforcement potential than CNF, highlighting nanocellulose as a promising sustainable filler for high-performance epoxy insulation.
DOI: 10.14419/896a5439
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7117888141