Effects of ZnO Nanoparticles on the Breakdown Strength, Conductivity, and Space Charge Accumulation of the HDPE / LDPE Blend

ABSTRACT HDPE/LDPE blends are promising recyclable insulation materials for power cables, but their electrical performances need to be further optimized. In this work, the HDPE/LDPE nanocomposites were prepared with different nano‐ZnO contents. The isothermal surface potential decay (ISPD) characteristics, breakdown strength, conductivity, and space charge distribution were systematically investigated. The results show that ZnO nanoparticles with appropriate content (e.g., 0.1 wt%) introduce deep traps in the HDPE/LDPE matrix, effectively improving breakdown strength, reducing conductivity, and inhibiting space charge accumulation. The 0.1 wt% nanocomposite exhibits the optimal electrical performance, which provides a feasible strategy for the application of recyclable insulation materials in outdoor power cables.