Understanding the performance of gamma-ray-irradiated epoxy nanocomposites

Abstract

Epoxy nanocomposites being used in the high-energy radiation zones as an insulant may undergo changes in their dielectric properties during service. In the present study, the performance of base epoxy resin (S1) is compared with epoxy resin with ion trapping particle (Sample S2) and epoxy resin with nanotitania (Sample S3) particle. The influence of gamma irradiation on nanocomposites was analysed. Corona inception voltage due to water droplet initiated discharge and contact angle reduces post-gamma-ray irradiation. Surface potential decay time constant reduced drastically for gamma-ray-irradiated specimens. Trap distribution characterisation indicated that charge mobility increases after irradiation. The surface roughness of the sample increases with the irradiation dosage. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy shows that permittivity reduces and loss tangent increases with the gamma-irradiated specimens. Water diffusion rate increases for the gamma-ray-irradiated specimen. No change in elemental composition, measured using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, of test specimens was observed. The hardness of the material and plasma temperature formed during laser shine decreases with gamma-ray irradiation intensity for Sample S1, whereas samples S2 and S3 showed only marginal variation. The performance of Sample S2 is found to be better than Samples S1 and S3.