A 2D CELLULAR AUTOMATA MODEL FOR TREE PROPAGATION IN NANOCOMPOSITES: INFLUENCE OF THE NANOPARTICLES SIZE, LOADING AND THE PRESENCE OF MICROVOIDS

Electrical tree propagation in a polymer nanocomposite is affected by the presence of nanoparticles. A 2D cellular automata (CA) model is presented for the simulation of electrical tree propagation in polymer nanocomposites. The erect of the nanoparticles size, the nanoparticles loading and the appearance of microvoids on electrical tree propagation in titania (TiO2)/epoxy nanocomposites under the application of DC voltage is examined with the aid of the CA model. It has been observed that the tree length is affected by nanoparticles size and nanoparticles loading. A resistance in electrical tree propagation has been noticed, as nanoparticles size decreases or as nanoparticles loading increases. The presence of microvoids in the polymer nanocomposite is another factor that has been examined. The propagation of electrical trees that initiate from microvoids in the polymer nanocomposite has also been simulated by the use of the CA model.