Study on the corona aging characteristics of KH570-modified nano-Al(OH)₃ cycloaliphatic epoxy resin in hygrothermal environments

Cycloaliphatic epoxy(CE) resin may experience insulation degradation and pose a threat to the safe operation of equipment when used in high-temperature and high-humidity environment. Therefore, to enhance the corona aging resistance of CE under harsh conditions, this study incorporated γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane-modified (KH570) nano-Al(OH)₃ with varying content into the CE. The samples were subjected to corona aging tests under different hygrothermal conditions. The corona aging characteristics of CE in high-temperature and high-humidity environments were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), resistivity, and dielectric loss measurements before and after modification. The results indicate that as humidity increases, the unmodified samples develop pores and cracks on the surface, which leads to an increased water absorption rate and internal hydrolysis. However, with the increase in filler content, the water absorption channels on the sample surface decrease, effectively suppressing chemical moisture absorption and maintaining the stability of the internal chemical structure. Among the various filler contents, the effect was most pronounced at 3%wtCE. Under 65 % RH conditions, the volume/surface resistivity increased by 27.28 % and 26.9 %, respectively, the leakage current decreased by 64.85 %, while the dry and wet breakdown voltages increased by 9.3 kV and 6.85 kV, respectively, and the dielectric loss variation with humidity was reduced. Compared to the unmodified material, KH570-modified nano-Al(OH)₃ has significantly improved the insulation and aging resistance properties of the material under hot and humid corona aging conditions. This study provides a reference for improving the performance of epoxy resins under high temperature, high humidity, and strong electric field conditions. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.