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New melt mixing polyethylene multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites with very low electrical percolation threshold
Author(s) -
Jouni Mohammad,
Boiteux Gisèle,
Massardier Valérie
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.3164
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , percolation threshold , composite material , masterbatch , high density polyethylene , polyethylene , electrical resistivity and conductivity , carbon nanotube , dielectric , percolation (cognitive psychology) , optoelectronics , engineering , neuroscience , electrical engineering , biology
The present work focuses on the study of the electrical properties of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites. The samples were produced by melt mixing by diluting a masterbatch of HDPE/MWCNT using two types of mini‐extruders in order to see the influence of the shear processing on the electrical properties. The dielectric relaxation spectroscopy was used for the investigation of the electrical properties in the studied samples. The composites dc conductivity ( σ dc ) follows the scaling low derivate from the percolation theory of the form σ dc ~ ( p − p c ) t . A low electrical percolation ( p c ≈ 0.3 − 0.4 vol . %) was found in both cases. The critical exponent t had a value very close to the theoretical one for a percolation network in three dimensions ( t ≈ 2). The analysis of the morphology of the nanocomposites showed a good and homogeneous dispersion of the fillers in the PE matrix. The effect of the incorporation of MWCNTs on the dynamic mechanical and thermal behaviors was also presented. The MWCNTs have improved the mechanical properties of the polyethylene matrix and increased the crystallization temperatures. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.