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Different wood-fibre based papers were characterized by dielectric spectroscopy, mechanical testing and microscopy. The data obtained were utilized to investigate the relationship between the chemistry, morphology and density of a paper and its permittivity and dielectric loss. The density strongly influences the dielectric response, but the response is not affected by the way the density has been achieved; by pressing the paper during drying or by mechanical treatment of the fibres before sheet preparation. The chemical composition of the pulp influences the polarization, dielectric loss and charge transport. It was found that paper-vacuum and paper-oil combinations can be represented by series-equivalent circuits. The permittivity of paper made from electrical grade kraft pulp, used in e.g. high voltage transformers, without any porosity is estimated to be 5.3 and tan δ to 0.01- 0.02 at 50 Hz and 70 °C. The lignin and hemicellulose content of the kraft pulp do not affect the real part of the permittivity significantly, but the dielectric losses increase with increasing lignin and hemicellulose content in both oil and vacuum at 50 Hz and 70 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Surface discharge behavior of modified oil-impregnated paper (OIP) with nanoparticles (NPs), has been investigated under AC voltage with superimposed impulses. Surface Partial Discharges (PD) can develop at an oil-paper interface and lead to its degradation. Modified paper, made from fibers with adsorbed nanoparticles, can affect the partial discharge behavior of a paper in combination with oil at the interface between oil and fibers. Papers with two different concentrations (2 wt% and 6 wt%) of silica (SiO2), and paper with silanized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (1 wt%) have been studied. Papers with SiO2 NPs showed lower impulse-induced surface PD activity. However, thorough purification during the production of SiO2 filled papers was necessary to achieve a good performance. With less purification, paper with 2 wt% of SiO2 did not show such significant improvements. Paper with 6 wt% of SiO2 NPs showed a large number of AC surface PDs, but low influence of impulse voltage on subsequent PD. Papers containing 1 wt% of silanized ZnO showed reduced relative permittivity, but no significant difference in surface PD behavior. The effect of high lignin content in Kraft paper has also been studied. Paper with higher lignin content showed better surface PD characteristics under the impulse. Paper with low concentrations of pure SiO2 NPs, and paper with high lignin content thus appear good candidates for further studies to improve the surface PD behavior of OIP. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Influence of reinforcements on mechanical and thermal properties of graphene nanoplatelets/epoxy composites is investigated. Amine functionalized expanded graphene nanoplatelets (EGNPs) were dispersed within epoxy resins using high-pressure processor followed by three roll milling. Functionality on the EGNPs was confirmed with FTIR and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Bending and nano-mechanical testing was performed on the composites. Incorporation of EGNPs improved the flexural modulus and hardness of the composite and increased fracture toughness by up to 60%. Marked improvement was observed in thermal conductivity of the composites reaching 36% at 2wt.% loading. Functionalized EGNPs exhibited significant improvements indicating favorable interaction at EGNPs/polymer interface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]