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Effects of carbon nanotubes and interphase properties on the interfacial conductivity and electrical conductivity of polymer nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Zare Yasser,
Rhee Kyong Yop
Publication year - 2020
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.5969
Subject(s) - materials science , waviness , carbon nanotube , conductivity , interphase , percolation threshold , composite material , nanocomposite , percolation (cognitive psychology) , polymer , electrical resistivity and conductivity , polymer nanocomposite , electrical conductor , quantum tunnelling , chemistry , optoelectronics , engineering , neuroscience , biology , electrical engineering , genetics
L c is the minimum length of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) required for efficient transfer of filler conductivity to polymer matrix in polymer CNT nanocomposites (PCNTs). In this work, L c is correlated with the dimensions of the CNTs and the interphase thickness. Subsequently, the interfacial conductivity as well as the effective length and concentration of CNTs are expressed by CNT and interphase properties. Moreover, a simple model for the tunneling conductivity of PCNTs is developed with these effective terms. The impacts of all parameters on L c , the interfacial conductivity, the fraction of CNTs in the networks and the conductivity of the PCNT are explained and justified. In addition, the predictions of the percolation threshold and conductivity are compared with the experimental results of several samples. The desirable values of interfacial conductivity are achieved by thin, short and super‐conductive CNTs, high waviness and a thick interphase. However, thin and long CNTs, low waviness, a thick interphase, poor tunneling resistivity due to the polymer matrix and a short tunneling distance advantageously affect the conductivity of PCNTs, because they produce large conductive networks. The predictions also show good agreement with the experimental measurements of percolation threshold and conductivity, which confirms the developed equations. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry