The surface discharge inception voltage (SDIV) of epoxy MoS 2 nanocomposite is high under DC voltage compared to AC voltages. It is also observed that SDIV increases up to 0.5 wt% of MoS 2 added epoxy resin and above which a marginal reduction in SDIV is observed. Surface charge accumulation is less with epoxy nanocomposite compared with epoxy resin. With increase in percentage of MoS 2 , complete reduction in charge retention time is observed. Surface roughness measurement with the surface discharge caused damage zone with epoxy nanocomposites indicate that surface roughness is less when the percentage of MoS 2 is increased and above certain weight percentage, the surface roughness is almost same. Epoxy nanocomposites show a marginal increase in contact angle with increase in weight percentage of molybdenum disulfide. LIBS studies indicate that the crater depth and the plasma temperarure measured is low for epoxy nanocomposites with 0.5 wt% MoS 2 . POLYM. COMPOS., 40:1556–1563, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers