Electrical and thermal conductivity and tensile and flexural properties of carbon nanotube/polycarbonate resins

Abstract

Adding conductive carbon fillers to insulating thermoplastic polymers increases the resulting composite's electrical conductivity. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are very effective at increasing composite electrical conductivity at low loading levels without compromising composite tensile and flexural properties. In this study, varying amounts (2-8 wt %) of CNTs were added to polycarbonate (PC) by melt compounding, and the resulting composites were tested for electrical conductivity (1/electrical resistivity), thermal conductivity, and tensile and flexural properties. The percolation threshold was less than 1.4 vol % CNT, likely because of CNTs high aspect ratio (1000). The addition of CNT to PC increased the composite electrical and thermal conductivity and tensile and flexural modulus. The 6 wt % (4.2 vol %) CNT in PC resin had a good combination of properties for electrical conductivity applications. The electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity were 18 X-cm and 0.28 W/m Á K, respectively. The tensile modulus, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and strain at UTS were 2.7 GPa, 56 MPa, and 2.8%, respectively. The flexural modulus, ultimate flexural strength, and strain at ultimate flexural strength were 3.6 GPa, 125 MPa, and 5.5%, respectively. Ductile tensile behavior is noted in pure PC and in samples containing up to 6 wt % CNT.

Superior mechanical and electrical properties of multiwall carbon nanotube reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene high performance composites

“…After ABS3, all polymer composites of ABS show brittle behaviour. This has already been reported by previous researchers [10,34,35].…”

Mechanical and electrical properties of high performance MWCNT/polycarbonate composites prepared by an industrial viable twin screw extruder with back flow channel

“…This has been reported by many researchers. 22,24,35 This is also evident from images of failed MWCNT/PC composite samples ( Fig. 3(d)).…”

Mechanical and electrical properties of multiwall carbon nanotube/polycarbonate composites for electrostatic discharge and electromagnetic interference shielding applications

“…This type of a qualitative change in the stress-strain behavior with the composite becoming less ductile as CNT concentration increases has also been reported by other workers. 12,14,30 The reduced ductility of CNT/PC composites by addition of CNTs has also been reported for oriented melt-spun bers of CNT/PC composites 10,13 and for CNT/PC composites studied at cryogenic temperatures.…”