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Electrical properties of composites as affected by the degree of mixedness of the conductive filler in the polymer matrix
Author(s) -
Kalyon Dilhan M.,
Birinci Elvan,
Yazici Rahmi,
Karuv Bahadir,
Walsh Shawn
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.11056
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , electrical conductor , composite number , percolation (cognitive psychology) , mixing (physics) , polymer , percolation threshold , electrical resistivity and conductivity , filler (materials) , conductive polymer , conductivity , chemistry , engineering , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , electrical engineering , biology , physics
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.