Enhanced Electrical Insulation Properties of 2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline Grafted Polypropylene for High Voltage Direct Current Power Cables

Abstract Polymers have been extensively used for high voltage direct current transmission systems as insulation power cables. Space charge accumulation consistently remains the primary factor contributing to the degradation of the electrical insulation properties of polymers. Grafting modification is a valid approach for suppressing the injection of space charges and free electrons by inducing deep traps. In this paper, the modified polypropylene grafted the group with low ionization energy is reported. The deep traps are revealed by the thermally stimulated depolarization current experiment and the band structure as well as the electrostatic potential by density functional theory simulation. The method with the innovative hybrid functional and basis set is adopted to establish the average local ionization distribution of the grafting group, thus confirming its strong electrophilicity. Furthermore, the modified polypropylene has been proved to obtain higher breakdown strength and operational stability by experiments. This work can provide insights for the design and selection of power cables with excellent electrical insulation properties.