Progress of Nonlinear Polymer Composites for Improving Nonuniform Electrical Fields

Non-uniform electrical field widely existing in insulation components of power systems brings about great technical difficulty and additional cost, as well as potential harm to reliability of power equipment. The polymer composites with nonlinear conductivity or permittivity that depends on applied electrical fields can smartly smooth the non-uniform electrical fields in insulation components of power systems through fitting material parameters with the electrical fields. We have summarized the worldwide progress and achievements in researching nonlinear polymer composites for improving non-uniform electrical fields in detail. Furthermore, we think that the smart polymer composites, which have both nonlinear conductivity and nonlinear permittivity, should take the lead so as to adaptively adjust and control the inner electric field distribution of power equipment. On the other hand, the characteristics and models of the interface between nanoparticle and polymer should be revealed, to provide fundamental theory support for further tailoring the electrical field property of composite polymers.