Premium
Morphological influence of carbon modifiers on the electromagnetic shielding of their linear low density polyethylene composites
Author(s) -
Villacorta Byron S.,
Ogale Amod A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.41055
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , percolation threshold , microstructure , composite number , carbon nanotube , carbon nanofiber , polyethylene , morphology (biology) , electromagnetic shielding , carbon fibers , ductility (earth science) , electrical resistivity and conductivity , creep , biology , electrical engineering , genetics , engineering
The influence of morphology of carbon modifiers on the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of their polyethylene‐matrix composites is reported. Four heat‐treated (HT) carbon modifiers were investigated: PR‐19‐HT carbon nanofibers, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT‐HT), helical multiwalled carbon nanotubes (HCNT‐HT), and mesophase pitch‐based P‐55 carbon fibers as a control. These were melt‐mixed with linear low density polyethylene at 10 vol %, which was above the percolation threshold. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EM SE) of the composites exhibits significant dependence on the modifier morphology. Thus, MWHTs, with the highest aspect ratio, lead to the highest composite electrical and thermal conductivities (34 Sm −1 and 1 Wm −1 K −1 ) and EM SE (∼24 dB). In contrast, HCNT, due to their coiled shape and low aspect ratio, lead to segregated microstructure and low EM SE (<1 dB). However, these composites display the highest ductility (∼250%) and flexibility, probably due to matrix‐modifier mechanical bonding provided by the helical morphology. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131 , 41055.