Premium
Effects of crystallization on dispersion of carbon nanofibers and electrical properties of polymer nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Tjong S.C.,
Liang G.D.,
Bao S.P.
Publication year - 2008
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.20949
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , high density polyethylene , crystallization , low density polyethylene , polymer , polystyrene , composite material , polyethylene , dispersion (optics) , carbon nanofiber , amorphous solid , crystallization of polymers , polymer nanocomposite , percolation threshold , chemical engineering , carbon nanotube , organic chemistry , electrical resistivity and conductivity , chemistry , physics , electrical engineering , optics , engineering
Polymer nanocomposites filled with low volume fractions of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared by melt‐compounding. Three types of polymers with different crystallization behavior, i.e., weakly‐crystallized low density polyethylene (LDPE), strongly crystallized high density polyethylene (HDPE) and amorphous polystyrene (PS), were selected as matrices for the nanocomposites. The effects of polymer crystallization on the dispersion of CNFs were examined. Optical and electron microscopic examinations revealed that the dispersion of CNFs in the nanocomposite matrices was strongly depended on the crystallization behavior of polymer matrices. The CNFs were found to disperse uniformly in weakly crystallized LDPE and amorphous PS matrices, but agglomerated in HDPE due to its strong crystallization tendency. Such a distinct dispersion behavior of CNFs in polymers had a profound effect on the electrical properties of the nanocomposites investigated. The PS/CNF nanocomposites exhibited the lowest percolation threshold. The HDPE/CNF nanocomposites showed the largest percolation threshold due to the CNF agglomeration within the amorphous phase of HDPE. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 48:177–183, 2008. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers