Performance of Semi-conductive Shielding Layer Based on Polypropylene and Olefin Block Copolymer

doi:10.11901/1005.3093.2025.205

Chinese Journal of Materials Research

2026, Vol. 40

Issue (1): 23-30 DOI: 10.11901/1005.3093.2025.205

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Performance of Semi-conductive Shielding Layer Based on Polypropylene and Olefin Block Copolymer

ZHU Haowen¹^,², SUI Guoxin¹^,²(

), LIU Dongyan¹^,²

^1.School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Shenyang 110016, China
^2.Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China

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ZHU Haowen, SUI Guoxin, LIU Dongyan. Performance of Semi-conductive Shielding Layer Based on Polypropylene and Olefin Block Copolymer. Chinese Journal of Materials Research, 2026, 40(1): 23-30.

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Abstract

In order to enhance the stability of polypropylene (PP) cables, it is essential to develop compatible PP-based semi-conductive shielding layers. In this study, semi-conductive shielding materials were prepared via melt blending using a twin-screw extruder, with PP as the matrix, OBC as the elastomer, and carbon black (CB) as the conductive filler. The effect of OBC content on the multifaceted properties of the acquired materials were investigated by observing the dispersion morphology of CB, analyzing their melting-crystallization behavior and temperature-dependent resistivity. The results showed that while increasing OBC content generally enhanced the positive temperature coefficient (PTC) effect, the prepared semi-conductive shielding material with 21% OBC (OBC21) exhibited the lowest PTC strength (I_PTC = 0.2435), with a room temperature resistivity of 24.29 Ω·cm and a maximum resistivity of 42.55 Ω·cm. Microstructural analysis demonstrates that CB is selectively dispersed within OBC, and an increase in OBC content enhances the dispersion of CB. Overall, OBC-21 exhibits the most favorable overall performance. This study provides a material design strategy for the development of high-performance PP cable shields.

Key words: composite semi-conducting shielding materials carbon black polypropylene volume resistivity

Received: 16 June 2025

ZTFLH:

TB332

Corresponding Authors: SUI Guoxin, Tel: (024)83978040, E-mail: gxsui@imr.ac.cn

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https://www.cjmr.org/EN/10.11901/1005.3093.2025.205 OR https://www.cjmr.org/EN/Y2026/V40/I1/23

Table 1 Composition ratio of each specimen

Fig.1 Scanning electron microscope images of the brittle fracture surfaces of the samples (a) OBC-21, (b) OBC-28, (c) OBC-35

Fig.2 Scanning electron microscope images of the brittle fracture surfaces of the samples after immersed in n-heptane and kept at 80 ^oC for 30 min (a) OBC-21, (b) OBC-28, (c) OBC-35

Fig.3 Surface roughness of each specimen (a) OBC-21, (b) OBC-28, (c) OBC-35

Fig.4 Effect of OBC content on mechanical properties of composites

Fig.5 DMA curve of semi-conductive shielding material (a) storage modulus (E′), (b) loss modulus (E″), (c) loss factor (tanδ)

Fig.6 DSC curves of semi-conducting shielding material (a) melting process, (b) crystallization process

Fig.7 Volume resistivity-temperature curve of semi-conducting shielding material

Table 2 Electrical properties of different shielding materials

Fig.8 Space charge distribution in PP at end of pressurization polarization (a) OBC-21, (b) OBC-28, (c) OBC-35

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