Premium
Electrical conductivity of polyurethane/MWCNT nanocomposite foams
Author(s) -
Athanasopoulos N.,
Baltopoulos A.,
Matzakou M.,
Vavouliotis A.,
Kostopoulos V.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.22256
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , polyurethane , percolation (cognitive psychology) , carbon nanotube , nanocomposite , percolation threshold , electrical conductor , conductivity , electrical resistivity and conductivity , chemistry , engineering , neuroscience , electrical engineering , biology
Abstract Polymeric foams with electrical conductivity represent a novel and very interesting class of materials rather sporadically studied. In this study, the feasibility to prepare electrically conductive Rigid Polyurethane (PUR) foams at various densities using multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) at varying contents was investigated. The produced PUR/MWCNT foams exhibited electrical conductivity over a wide range of densities and nanofiller contents. The effect of these two parameters on the electrical conductivity of the final foam system was studied. To explain the behavior, Statistical Percolation laws were employed. Model parameters were elaborated for both cases showing that the percolation model can adequately describe the behavior. The foaming process is analyzed in further detail to assist in the explanation and understanding of theexperimental observations. Finally, a material design map is proposed for the preparation of electrically conductive foams. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers