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Enhancing dielectric breakdown strength: structural relaxation of amorphous polymers and nanocomposites

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Abstract

The thermal history of amorphous polymers near the glass-transition temperature determines the extent to which macromolecules structurally relax, and ultimately their properties. Here, we report the correlation between physical aging, dielectric breakdown, and capacitive energy storage of polystyrene, poly(methyl-methacrylate), and associated silica nanocomposites. Guided by enthalphic recovery rates, dielectric breakdown strength increased from 20% to 40% when aged at Tg−10 °C before use. The generality of improvement and connection to enthalpic recovery afford a means to design pre-service processing of new polymers and additive manufacturing techniques to reduce excess volume within the glass; and thereby reduce initiation and inhibit propagation of electronic failure.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and Air Force Research Laboratory Materials & Manufacturing Directorate for their financial support along with V. McNeir and J. DeCerbo for their assistance with energy storage characterization, and C. Chi (Dupont de Nemours & Co.) for colloidal silica samples. The authors also thank the Bockstaller and Matyjaszewski groups (Carnegie Mellon University) and J. S. Meth (DuPont) for supplying nanocomposite samples and images.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 45433, USA

    Christopher A. Grabowski, Hilmar Koerner & Richard A. Vaia

  2. UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, 45432, USA

    Christopher A. Grabowski & Hilmar Koerner

Authors
  1. Christopher A. Grabowski
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  2. Hilmar Koerner
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  3. Richard A. Vaia
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Correspondence to Richard A. Vaia.

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For supplementary material for this article, please visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2015.29

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Grabowski, C.A., Koerner, H. & Vaia, R.A. Enhancing dielectric breakdown strength: structural relaxation of amorphous polymers and nanocomposites. MRS Communications 5, 205–210 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2015.29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2015.29

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