Morphological Characterization and Modelling of Electrical Conductivity of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube / Poly(p-Phenylene Sulfide) Nanocomposites Obtained by Twin Screw Extrusion

A. Noll (1) , T. Burkhart (1)

1 Institute of Composite Materials GmbH

In this study, poly(p-phenylene sulfide) based nanocomposites containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were produced by dilution of a 15 wt.% MWNT/PPS masterbatch via twin screw extrusion process. The electrical conductivities of the nanocomposites were measured and percolation threshold was observed below 0.77 vol.% MWNTs. The state of dispersion and distribution quality of MWNTs was analyzed on macro- and nanoscale through transmission light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A good deagglomeration of primary macroagglomerates and a homogenous MWNT distribution on nanoscale was found. The dependence of conductivity on MWNT concentration was estimated using statistical percolation theory which matches the experimental data quite well. A new empirical equation was set up to fit the electrical conductivity using quantitative values of visible percolating MWNTs which were detected by charge contrast imaging in SEM.

Mots clés: A. Nano composites; A. Carbon nanotubes; B. Electrical properties; C. Modelling; D. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Domaines: Matériaux

A. Noll, T. Burkhart. Morphological Characterization and Modelling of Electrical Conductivity of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube / Poly(p-Phenylene Sulfide) Nanocomposites Obtained by Twin Screw Extrusion. Composites Science and Technology, 2011, 71 (4), pp.499. ⟨10.1016/j.compscitech.2010.12.026⟩. ⟨hal-00723643⟩