Experimental Investigation of the Dielectric Characterization of a Low-Density Polyethylene/Polypropylene/2D-Nanomaterial Based Polymer Nanocomposite for Electrical Insulation Application
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1013-5256Keywords:
Solid Insulation, Composite Polymer, Layered Nanoparticles, NanopolymerAbstract
Many polymer composites do have the problem of fundamental microstructural mechanisms. In this study, polymer nanocomposite was developed from 2D layered nanomaterial (clay) as filler particles in Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene blend. The developed materials were characterized for its dielectric properties and electrical conductivity. The study deeply investigates the frequency-dependent electrical conductivity and dielectric properties of polypropylene (PP) and low-density polyethylene composite polymer blends reinforced with nanoparticles over a frequency range of 10 kHz to 200 kHz. Experimental results of the nanocomposites (NC) formed indicates that electrical conductivity for all composite polymer formulations follows an exponential increase with frequency, a behavior characteristic of AC conduction in heterogeneous polymer systems. The highest conductivity values (approximately 100) were observed in the nanopolymer PP/NC and PE/NC, suggesting the formation of efficient conductive networks and charge transport via hopping and tunneling mechanisms. Logarithmic analysis of AC conductivity reveals a linear trend consistent with Jonscher’s universal power law, indicating a transition from frequency-independent to frequency-dependent regimes. The dielectric constant exhibited significant frequency dispersion, with pure PP showing high initial values (~420) that declined sharply at higher frequencies. Incorporating nanoparticles into the matrix may have introduced distinct relaxation peaks, particularly in LDPE/NC (~290 at 150 kHz), attributed to Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars interfacial polarization at the filler-matrix boundaries. These findings demonstrate that the nanoparticles reinforcement effectively tunes the electrical and dielectric behaviour of the polymer nanocomposite blends, making them suitable for advanced functional applications such as solid insulation, flexible electronics, and dielectric sensors where frequency-controllable permittivity is required.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Aliyu Abdulraheem, Sadiq Umar, Mikhail Olakunle, Saidu Maidawa Shuaibu, Shaibu Asuku Suleiman
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