Electrical properties of composites as affected by the degree of mixedness of the conductive filler in the polymer matrix

Dilhan M. Kalyon, Elvan Birinci, Rahmi Yazici, Bahadir Karuv, Shawn Walsh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Scopus citations

Abstract

The development of the electrical properties of composites as a function of the degree of mixedness of a conductive filler distributed into an insulating polymer is investigated. A wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD)-based quantitative phase analysis method was used to characterize the variations of the concentrations of the insulating binder and the conductive particles around their mean values as a function of mixing time in an intensive batch mixer. Increasing the time and hence, the specific energy input, during the mixing process results in a more homogeneous spatial distribution of the conductive filler in the polymeric matrix, which in turn results in a decrease of the volume conductivity of the composite. The decreasing conductivity of the composite is attributed to the better coating and hence the isolation of the conductive particles from each other, thus hindering the formation of a conductive network "percolation." Overall, these results suggest that the control of the electrical properties of conductive composites could benefit from a good understanding and adequate control of the dynamics of the mixing process and the resulting degree of mixedness of the conductive particles in the polymer matrix.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1609-1617
Number of pages9
JournalPolymer Engineering and Science
Volume42
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2002

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