Nonlinear V-I characteristics of particulate composite prepared from dispersion of silicon carbide in a siloxane elastomer have been measured as a function of filler concentration up to the maximum allowable of about 32 vol.%. Two critical concentrations (percolation thresholds) are obtained at volume fractions of about 17 and 24 vol.% for low and high electric fields. These values are consistent with the critical concentrations predicted by the theory: 14 and 31 vol.% respectively and may come from edge and face contacts between SiC semi-conducting particles.

In the design of medium and low voltage equipment such as cable accessories, generator, motor end windings or bushings, issues with electrical field enhancement occur at interfaces between insulators and conductors, resulting in accelerated material ageing. The purpose of this paper is to present a novel dielectric composite material which has the properties to mitigate this local amplification. It is a functional dielectric which resistivity decreases by several orders with electric field from 10(14) to 10(9) ohm m up to 1 kV mm(-1) while the dielectric constant decreases from 15 to 12 in the 10(-2)-10(6) Hz range. This novel material is made with graphite nanoplatelets. It may be used as a resistive or capacitive field grading material in electrical applications.

Downsizing electronic and electric equipment requires the optimization of electric field distributions in order to avoid localized dielectric breakdown (also called partial discharges). This paper presents a novel dielectric composite material aimed at grading electrical local surface stress. This functional material has a conductivity which increases by several orders with the applied electric field giving the ability to distribute the field by itself. It is prepared for the first time by dispersing graphite nanoplatelets in a polymer and may be used as a resistive or capacitive field grading material in electronic and electrical applications. Mechanisms at the origin of the nonlinear behavior are discussed.

The effect of resistive field grading coatings on the electric field distribution in a medium voltage bushing has been studied. A typical coating is obtained by applying a commercial resistive field grading material and a conductive varnish that we both have previously electrically characterized. The electric field distribution over the bushing surface was computed and analyzed using a finite element method software (Flux 2D). The electric field enhancements at its critical points with and without field grading material were considered and confronted with experimental partial discharge detection. The complementary between the field grading material and the conductive varnish is highlighted: a special care of the true capability of the conductive layer to withdraw the electrical charges is stressed out.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of nonlinear parameters (threshold field, low field conductivity and nonlinearity coefficient) on the performance of a cable termination equipped with a resistive field grading tube in 50 Hz and impulse voltage. The electrical field distribution over the insulator silicone housing surface was computed and analyzed using a finite element software (Flux 2D). Comparative studies between linear field grading (r = 2.9 and 16) and nonlinear resistive field grading (12 < r < 19) show that better effectiveness is achieved with a low threshold field and a high permittivity under 50 Hz and a high nonlinearity coefficient under impulse voltage.

L'invention se rapporte à un matériau de répartition de champ électrique obtenu à partir dune formulation comprenant une matrice polymérique et une charge ou un mélange de charges conférant audit matériau une résistance électrique non linéaire.