Adding nucleating agents (NAs) is one of the most efficient ways to obtain improved mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP). While it is well appreciated that electrical property is critically affected by crystalline modification, the role between them remains unclear. Here, we address this issue by incorporating commercial α-NA and β-NA into iPP, both of which exhibit strong nucleation ability, e.g., reducing the size of crystalline agglomerates from 45.3 μm (Pure-iPP) to 2.5 μm (α-iPP) and 7.6 μm (β-iPP), respectively. Mechanical testing results show that while β-modification decreases the tensile strength a little, it does enhance the elongation at break (200%) and toughness (25.3% higher), relative to its unfilled counterparts. Moreover, a well-dispersed β-iPP system obtains a comprehensive improvement of electrical properties, including dielectric breakdown strength, space charge suppression, and internal field distortion under a high external field (−100 kV/mm) due to newly-generated deep charge trapping sites. This crystalline modification strategy is attractive for future development of many engineering insulating polymers.

The insulation property at high voltage frequencies has become a tough challenge with the rapid development of high-voltage and high-frequency power electronics. In this paper, the electrical treeing behavior of silicone rubber (SIR) is examined and determined at various voltage frequencies, ranging from 50 Hz to 130 kHz. The results show that the initiation voltage of electrical trees decreased by 27.9% monotonically, and they became denser when the voltage frequency increased. A bubble-shaped deterioration phenomenon was observed when the voltage frequency exceeded 100 kHz. We analyze the typical treeing growth pattern at 50 Hz (including pine-like treeing growth and bush-like treeing growth) and the bubble-growing pattern at 130 kHz. Bubbles grew exponentially within several seconds. Moreover, bubble cavities were detected in electrical tree channels at 50 Hz. Combined with the bubble-growing characteristics at 130 kHz, a potential growing model for electrical trees and bubbles in SIR is proposed to explain the growing patterns at various voltage frequencies.

The reactive current can be reduced effectively by decreasing the frequency of the voltage in partial discharge (PD) test, especially for equipment with large capacitance. Thus, the cost and volume of the test power supply can be economized. To figure out the difference of PD characteristics in transformer oil between rated alternating-current (AC) frequency (50 Hz) and low frequency, tests are conducted from rated AC frequency to very low frequency (0.1 Hz) based on impulse current method. The results show that with the decrease of frequency, the inception voltage increases. The maximum and mean magnitude of discharge and pulse repetition rate first increase slightly, then decrease obviously. The main features of the variation of phase resolved PD (PRPD) patterns, discharge statistical patterns (phase distribution of maximum and mean discharge magnitude, pulse repetition rate q_max–φ, q_mean–φ, n–φ; and number distribution of discharge magnitude n–q), and their characteristic parameters (skewness S_k⁺, S_k⁻; kurtosis K_u⁺, K_u⁻; asymmetry A_sy; and correlation coefficient C_c) are depicted in detail, which should be paid attention to when using low frequency voltage. The inner mechanism for these variations is discussed from the aspects of the influence on electric field distribution and discharge process of frequency. Additionally, the variation trend of PD characteristics with the decrease of frequency can provide more information about insulation defect, which can be the supplement for discharge mode recognition.