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Electrical and rheological percolation in poly(vinylidene fluoride)/multi‐walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Martins Johnny N,
Bassani Taís S,
Barra Guilherme MO,
Oliveira Ricardo VB
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2965
Subject(s) - percolation threshold , materials science , nanocomposite , carbon nanotube , composite material , rheology , percolation (cognitive psychology) , dynamic mechanical analysis , rheometry , dispersion (optics) , electrical resistivity and conductivity , rheometer , nanotube , polymer , physics , optics , neuroscience , electrical engineering , biology , engineering
Nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared through melt blending in a batch mixer (torque rheometer equipped with a mixing chamber). The morphology, rheological behavior and electrical conductivity were investigated through transmission electron microscopy, dynamic oscillatory rheometry and the two‐probe method. The nanocomposite with 0.5 wt% MWCNT content presented a uniform dispersion through the PVDF matrix, whereas that with 1 wt% started to present a percolated network. For the nanocomposites with 2 and 5 wt% MWCNTs the formation of this nanotube network was clearly evident. The electrical percolation threshold at room temperature found for this system was about 1.2 wt% MWCNTs. The rheological percolation threshold fitted from viscosity was about 1 wt%, while the threshold fitted from storage modulus was 0.9 wt%. Thus fewer nanotubes are needed to approach the rheological percolation threshold than the electrical percolation threshold. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry