Abstract
AbstractPoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites containing carbon fibers (CFs) with the controlled aspect ratio (AR) at various concentrations were produced and hot pressed into rectangular sheets with a variety of thickness. The orientation of CFs on the surface and inside the specimen was obtained, and the conductivity σ in three different directions (X‐length, Y‐width, Z‐thickness) were investigated. A preferential orientation of CFs in XY plane was found inside the samples, resulting in higher σX and σY. The orientation of CFs in Z direction increases with the sample thickness increasing, leading to an increasing σZ. Thus the anisotropic conductivity between σX (or σY) and σZ reduces from three orders of magnitude to one order of magnitude. The percolation thresholds (Φc) in three directions of the samples were revealed by fitting with McLachlan GEM equation, which lead to Φc,X ≈ Φc,Y ≈ Φc,Z, independent of the thickness and the measuring direction. The values of exponent t in GEM equation were found to be tX > tY > tZ, while tZ increases with the sample thickness. For the first time, the relationship between the exponent t and the sample thickness was revealed and discussed.
Highlights
Conductive polymer composites (CPCs) can endow the insulating polymer materials with conductive function via loading the conductive fillers into polymer matrices, which have received intensive attention from both the academy and industry
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites containing carbon fibers (CFs) with the controlled aspect ratio (AR) at various concentrations were produced and hot pressed into rectangular sheets with a variety of thickness
The percolation thresholds (Φc) in three directions of the samples were revealed by fitting with McLachlan general effective medium (GEM) equation, which lead to Φc,X ≈ Φc,Y ≈ Φc, Z, independent of the thickness and the measuring direction
Summary
Conductive polymer composites (CPCs) can endow the insulating polymer materials with conductive function via loading the conductive fillers into polymer matrices, which have received intensive attention from both the academy and industry. The orientation of CFs on the surface and inside the specimen was obtained, and the conductivity σ in three different directions (X-length, Y-width, Z-thickness) were investigated.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have