Polymer Nanodielectrics with Antioxidant Grafted Nanosilica: The Effect of Interfaces on DC Electrical Performance

Antioxidants are placed in the amorphous phase inside semicrystalline polymers, where they can easily diffuse towards the polymer bulk. This movement could lead to the creation of new interfaces on the polymer surface, made up of antioxidant crystals, possibly causing additional space charge accumulation. In this article, a new methodology to integrate antioxidants into the main polymer matrix by grafting them on nanoparticle surface is presented and tested. This methodology reduced the movement of additives, without losing the oxidative prevention effect of antioxidant molecules. Space charge behavior of the obtained materials is reported and discussed.