Structural, electrical and percolation threshold of Al/polymethylmethacrylate nanocomposites

Abstract

Aluminum-embedded polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) composites were produced by using different aluminum concentrations in the polymer matrix. The aluminum particles were spherical with a particle size of 80 nm. The hot compression molding method in inert atmosphere for all the composites was used in their preparation. The PMMA matrix was analyzed using solution viscosimetry analysis and it did not evidence degradation of the PMMA matrix. The microstructure of the composites was examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrical conductivity was measured as a function of the aluminum content and the composite fabricated with 10 vol.% aluminum presented a conductivity three order of magnitude higher than that of pure PMMA. The enhancement in conductivity can be explained by means of segregated percolation path theory and the experimental results are in agreement with the theoretical law. POLYM. COMPOS.,

Amorphous Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Composites with High-Aspect Ratio Aluminium Nano Platelets

“…Much of the literature seeking conductive plastics focuses solely on enhanced conductivity (which is surely obtainable above a certain loading), but mechanical properties are either unreported or, where reported, show a decline. The literature on Al in various plastics also shows this trend, with some reporting the conductivity but not the accompanying mechanical properties [ 7 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. However, some works on Al-filled plastics do report the mechanical properties.…”

“…Hence, the metal powder route can still be a viable route for electrically and thermally conductive plastics providing a metal–plastic pair can be found where the adhesion is good. Most of the work on conductive composites using metals have employed Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, and Ag powders, and the typical plastics have been the polyolefins, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMa), polystyrene, styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), polyamide 6, and polycarbonate [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Most often, the adhesion between the metal and plastic is poor; hence, electrical conductivity may be obtained, but with a deterioration of the mechanical properties.…”

Aluminum-Filled Amorphous-PET, a Composite Showing Simultaneous Increase in Modulus and Impact Resistance

“…%) loading. Sometimes percolation at low volume fractions is attained [ 9 , 10 , 11 ], but in other papers, higher metal loadings of 20–50% [ 12 , 13 , 14 ] are needed to achieve a leap in electrical conductivity. Particle shape is a factor that affects the percolation threshold.…”

“…In their paper [ 17 ], the mechanical properties were not considered, but at 50% loading of Al, the composite was likely to be brittle. Indeed, many papers (Poblete et al [ 18 ], Cu-PMMA; Pinto and Jiménez-Martín [ 19 ], Al flakes in nylon 6; Álvarez et al [ 11 ], Al-PMMA) that reported a rise in electrical conductivity by 11–13 orders, focussed only on the electrical or thermal conductivity (or both), but neglected the mechanical properties. It is almost certain compositions such as Cu-PMMA would be weak and brittle.…”