The influence of silane-grafted aluminum oxide nanoparticles on the interfacial interaction phase and electric performance of polyvinyl chloride-based nanocomposite

Enhancing voltage of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-insulated cable has been paid a great attention from researchers. Metal oxide nanoparticles such as: SiO2, ZnO, Al2O3 have shown good promise to achieve this goal. However, the great challenge for nanocomposites preparation is the dispersibility and interfacial interaction between filler(s) and PVC matrix to obtain high mechanical and electrical performances of nanocomposites. In this study, two kinds of silane substances, (3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (MPTS) and (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES)), were used as surface modification agents for γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs). The silanes grafting on the surface of γ-Al2O3 NPs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). By field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) observation, the interfacial interaction index and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) proved that the presence of silane remarkably improved the dispersibility, interfacial interaction and adhesion of Al2O3 NPs with PVC matrix. Thanks to these improvements, the obtained PVC/Al2O3 nanocomposites had much enhanced mechanical and electrical properties. At 0.75 wt