DC Conductivity and Tensile behavior Investigation on Fumed Silica -EPDM Nanocomposite for Electric Insulation Applications

Nano composites of fumed silica/EPDM have been prepared by the convenient technique, using an open mill mixer. The obtained vulcanized fumed silica/EPDM composites have been subjected to FTIR investigation to confirm the molecular structure in the composites matrix. The dc conductivity investigation was carried out for fumed silica/EPDM nano composites from room temperature up to 453 °K . The results illustrate a thermal activation with activation energy in the range 0.026 and 0.036 ev. The values of conductivity at room temperature don’t show remarkable variation with fumed silica. The stress-strain of fumed silica/EPDM nanocomposites was studied at room temperature for different concentrations of fumed silica 5 -25 phr. In addition, the tensile study for silica /EPDM illustrates yield transition for the different silica concentrations. A significant values of modulus ; resilience ; stress and strain at fracture are discussed on the basis of silica particle - silica particle ; silica - EPDM cohesions as well as composite matrix free volume .