Development of New Solid Insulating Material with Aid of Alkyl Phenolic Resin for a Liquid-Immersed Transformer

The continuous increase in power requirement has created new challenges for insulating materials. In a construction of a power transformer, the paper insulation is most vulnerable to power leakage. The condition of the insulation system in a power transformer directly affects its stability and reliability. The emergence of nanodielectrics for specialized high-voltage applications sparked off a variety of research activities, which proved that nanocomposites are capable of improving the electrical, thermal and mechanical properties of polymers. This paper primarily investigates the effect of layering of alkyl phenolic resin nanocomposite onto a basic cellulose paper by increasing resin’s content from 3.0–7.0%. Assessment is done to examine various physical, mechanical and dielectric properties. Analysis of the results indicates that alkyl phenolic resin-modified paper has uncommon properties that can become a promising replacement against basic cellulose paper. Also, the modification of the phenolic resin with the addition of silicon carbide (nSiC) nanoparticles (nanofillers) can greatly enhance the mechanical flexural strength, visco-elastic and thermal stability of the composite. The paper outlines the characteristics and properties of modified insulating paper in comparison with other existing unmodified insulating papers such as basic kraft paper, electra paper, nomex paper.