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Numerical Simulations of the Effect of Microstructure on AC Conductivity of MWCNT/Polymer Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Sun Xinxin,
Song Mo
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
macromolecular theory and simulations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-3919
pISSN - 1022-1344
DOI - 10.1002/mats.200900042
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , conductivity , crystallinity , microstructure , composite material , polymer , polymer nanocomposite , composite number , electrical resistivity and conductivity , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
A continuum model is developed to investigate the microstructure‐dependent AC properties of MWCNT/polymer nanocomposites. The AC conductivity of the composite is increased by a higher curl ratio of MWCNTs. At a critical frequency ω 0 , the AC conductivity switches to a frequency‐dependent region. For high MWCNT content, the curl curliness of MWCNTs has only a weak influence on the AC conductivity. For medium MWCNT content, the AC conductivity became frequency‐dependent for low frequencies with decreasing curl ratio of MWCNTs, which cannot be explained by correlation length theory. An interpretation based on the linear circuit theory is given. With increasing size of MWCNT clusters, the critical frequency ω 0 increases. It is also affected significantly by the crystallinity the polymer.