Effect of rice husk filler on the structural and dielectric properties of palm oil as an electrical insulation material

• Main Authors: Junian, Siti Sarah, Makmud, Mohamad Zul Hilmey, Jamain, Zuhair, Amin, Khairatun Najwa Mohd, Dayou, Jedol, Illias, Hazlee Azil
• Format: Article
• Published: MDPI 2021
• Subjects: QC Physics; TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering; TP Chemical technology; TX Home economics
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/28296/

This study uses natural fibre, which is moisture absorbent, as an innovative and economical filler for insulating oil. Rice husk (RH) is a natural fibre known to have water-absorbing properties and used as a supplementary cementitious material. This research utilises the water-absorbing properties of RH to improve the physicochemical and dielectric properties of insulating oil. RH was refined into a fine powder at a diameter of less than 63 mu m. Palm oil (PO) was synthesised with RH at concentrations of 0 g/L, 0.01 g/L, and 0.1 g/L. The moisture-absorbent properties of RH were analysed by using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The particle size and distribution of RH in PO were also obtained using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a Zeta particle analyser. The breakdown voltage (BDV) strength of PO with RH was measured according to IEC 60156, and the dielectric frequency response was investigated in the range of 10(2)-10(5) Hz. RH is proven to absorb moisture from PO, as the O-H band intensity at the 3350 cm(-1) is increased from the experimental results. Therefore, the mean BDV and dielectric insulation properties of PO dispersed with RH also increased accordingly.