Enhancing the Hydrophobic, Mechanical, and Insulation Properties of Silicone Rubber Insulators by Incorporating <scp> WS ₂ </scp> and <scp> MoS ₂ 2D </scp> Nanosheets

ABSTRACT Silicone rubber is widely recognized for its hydrophobic and mechanical properties, making it a suitable material for high‐voltage insulation. This study investigates a novel approach to improving these properties by incorporating two‐dimensional (2D) nanomaterials into liquid silicone rubber (LSR). Particularly, exfoliated tungsten disulfide (WS 2 ) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) nanosheets are implemented and contrasted with their nanoparticle counterparts. To improve dispersion and interfacial bonding, all fillers were surface‐functionalized using (3‐aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). The results demonstrate that the incorporation of 2D nanosheets leads to substantial enhancement in hydrophobicity, mechanical strength, and electrical insulation. The composites achieved the highest hydrophobicity classification (HC1) according to the IEC TS 62073 standard, with a maximum contact angle of 139.9°, a 32% improvement over nanoparticles and unfilled samples. Mechanical tests according to ISO 37 showed increases of up to 68% in tensile strength and 72% in elongation at break. Furthermore, electrical insulation tests demonstrated that breakdown voltage improved by 17.9% and flashover voltage by 17.3% for nanosheet‐filled samples. The results emphasize the efficacy of APTES‐functionalized 2D nanosheet materials in the advancement of silicone rubber insulators for outdoor high‐voltage applications, leading to a substantial enhancement in their performance and longevity.