Effect of Nanocellulose Reinforcement on The Structural,Dielectric, and ‎Electrical Breakdown of Epoxy Nanocomposites

  • Authors

    • M. Michael Energy Lab, Green Technologies and Advanced Matter (GREAT) Research Group, ‎Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
    • M. Z. H. Makmud Energy Lab, Green Technologies and Advanced Matter (GREAT) Research Group, ‎Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
    • Z. Jamain Energy Lab, Green Technologies and Advanced Matter (GREAT) Research Group, ‎Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
    • K. N. M. Amin Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, College Engineering ‎Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, ‎Malaysia
    • H. A. Illias UM High Voltage Laboratory (UMHVL)، Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    • S. Z. Dabbak Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Technology,‎ Al Zaytona University of Science and Technology-zust, Salfit, Palestine
    https://doi.org/10.14419/896a5439

    Received date: December 6, 2025

    Accepted date: December 24, 2025

    Published date: December 31, 2025

  • Nanocellulose; Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNC); Cellulose Nanofibers (CNF); ‎Dielectric; Electric Field; High Voltage Insulation

  • Abstract

    This study investigates the influence of nanocellulose (NC) on the dielectric and ‎electric field properties of epoxy-based nanocomposites for high-voltage insulation ‎applications. Two types of NC, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and cellulose ‎nanofibers (CNF), were incorporated into an epoxy matrix at loadings of 0.5–5.0 ‎wt.%. Morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform ‎dispersion at low concentrations and increasing agglomeration at higher loadings, ‎particularly in CNF due to its fibrous structure. Electrochemical impedance ‎spectroscopy showed that composites containing 1.0 wt.% CNC and 0.5 wt.% CNF ‎achieved optimal dielectric performance, with reduced relative permittivity (εᵣ ≈ 5.07 ‎for CNC and 5.57 for CNF), suppressed conductivity, and stable capacitive ‎behaviour. COMSOL simulations supported these findings, demonstrating reduced ‎peak electric field intensity (25.8 MV/m) at optimal loadings, indicating improved ‎field uniformity. Breakdown strength tests further confirmed the trend, with CNC ‎at 1.0 wt.% exhibiting 57.9 kV/mm (39% higher than neat epoxy) and CNF at 0.5 ‎wt.% showing 46.7 kV/mm (12% higher than neat epoxy). At higher loadings, ‎aggregation increased permittivity, field crowding, and dielectric loss, leading to ‎reduced insulation performance. Overall, CNC provided broader reinforcement ‎potential than CNF, highlighting nanocellulose as a promising sustainable filler for ‎high-performance epoxy insulation‎.

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  • How to Cite

    Michael, M. ., Makmud, M. Z. H. ., Jamain, Z., Amin, K. N. M. ., Illias, H. A. ., & Dabbak, S. Z. . (2025). Effect of Nanocellulose Reinforcement on The Structural,Dielectric, and ‎Electrical Breakdown of Epoxy Nanocomposites. International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 14(8), 608-615. https://doi.org/10.14419/896a5439