Improvement of the DC electrical performance of silicone rubber for cable accessories through aromatic hydrocarbon voltage stabilizer

The development of high voltage direct current (DC) cables poses new challenges to insulation. The electrical properties of silicone rubber (SiR) limit its application as cable accessories at high voltage levels. Therefore, this article attempted to add two kinds of voltage stabilizers with high electron affinity into the SiR to improve its DC electrical properties. The preferred addition percentage was initially determined by the breakdown strength. Properties such as conductivity, dielectric losses, and space charge distribution were also measured. The results showed that the DC electrical properties of organically modified SiR had improved comprehensively. There might be two reasons. First, the voltage stabilizer has a high electron affinity, which means it can trap high-energy electrons, thus reducing the number of carriers and mobility. In addition, it has an electric field gradient effect, which can homogenize the electric field by migration.