Polypropylene-based nanocomposites for HVDC cable insulation

Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is commonly used as an insulation material in power cables. Due to the recent advancements in the field of high voltage power transmission and distribution, there is a need for novel cable insulation materials that have high performance, recyclability and high working temperature as alternatives for the conventional XPLE-based insulation materials. Polypropylene (PP) shows excellent properties and has drawn considerable attention as a potential high voltage direct current (HVDC) insulation material. Therefore, the development of PP-based HVDC cable insulation with improved electrical, thermal and mechanical properties is important in discovering a potentially recyclable cable insulation material. Due to the remarkable development in the field of nanodielectrics, nanotechnology can be a promising solution for enhancing the overall dielectric properties of PP-based insulation materials. This review presents the important aspects of PP-based nanocomposites for HVDC cable insulation with a special focus on understanding the effects of various parameters of nanofillers on the dielectric properties of PP-based HVDC cable insulation. Based on the gathered information, future perspectives for improving the dielectric properties of PP-based nanocomposites for HVDC cable are provided.