Control of the temperature coefficient of the DC resistivity in polymer-based composites

Abstract

In this study, the roles of polymer matrices and filler additives in controlling the positive temperature coefficient (PTC)/negative temperature coefficient (NTC) behavior of DC resistivity at high temperature for semicrystalline ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, amorphous acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer, and their blend composites filled with different carbon fillers like Conductex carbon black, Printex carbon black, and short carbon fiber have been investigated. It is seen that the PTC/NTC behavior of resistivity depends on the characteristics of both polymer matrices and filler additives. The anomaly in the results are due to polymer crystallinity, shape and size of fillers, and their thermal expansion coefficient, that play major role in controlling the PTC/NTC of resistivity at high temperature for the composites. Finally, reproducibility of composite resistivity has been evaluated with their some proposed practical applications. These composites can be used as both PTC and NTC thermistors.