Influence of particle aspect ratio and ability to aggregate on electrical conductivity of fiber-forming polymer composites

Abstract

Fiber-forming polymer composites filled with carbon nanoparticles of three types (carbon black is a spherical filler; carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes are anisotropic nanoparticles) were produced by melt technology. Electrical conductivity of the fiber-forming polymer composites was measured; a function of the filler concentration and the percolation thresholds were determined. It was found that an increase in the aspect ratio of carbon nanoparticles leads to a decrease in the percolation threshold. The correlation between the axial ratio, stiffness, filler concentration and electrical conductivity of the percolation cluster in fiber-forming polymer composites was analysed.