A simple model for electrical conductivity of polymer carbon nanotubes nanocomposites assuming the filler properties, interphase dimension, network level, interfacial tension and tunneling distance

Abstract

This manuscript proposes a simple model for electrical conductivity of polymer carbon nanotubes (CNT) nanocomposites including the crucial parameters such as the volume fraction, effective volume fraction, percolation threshold, dimensions, waviness and conduction of CNT, interphase thickness, network fraction, interfacial tension between polymer and nanoparticles and tunneling distance between adjacent CNT. The proposed model is verified by the experimental data from various samples. Furthermore, the dependence of predicted conductivity on the model parameters is determined and discussed to approve the proposed model. The calculations of the proposed model successfully agree with the experimental conductivity data in the reported samples. In addition, the model parameters demonstrate acceptable effects on the conductivity. Some parameters such as filler volume fraction, tunneling distance, network fraction and interfacial tension meaningfully affect the conductivity of nanocomposites. On the contrary, the dimensions, conduction and percolation threshold of CNT insignificantly change the conductivity.