Electrical Conductivity of Carbon Fiber Filled Epoxy Resin Composites Molded by Using Centrifugal Force.

Abstract

The sample of epoxy resin filled with chopped carbon fibers was prepared by using centrifugal force in order to make the functionally gradient materials. The fiber content gradient measured by density of samples in the direction of centrifugal force was affected by aspect ratio of fibers and the magnitude of centrifugal force, The volume resistivity of samples was measured by the parallel plate electrodes and by the four-probe method in both directions parallel and perpendicular to the direction of centrifugal force. The values of volume resistivity perpendicular to the direction of centrifugal force was less scattered and lower than those parallel to the centrifugal force direction. The volume resistivity of samples was also affected by aspect ratio of fibers and the magnitude of centrifugal force. The samples show the volume resistivity less than 107 ohm-cm by both methods. It was confirmed by scanning electron microscopic observation that most of fibers aligned perpendicular to the direction of centrifugal force. The results indicated that the conductive composites with the fiber content gradient was prepared by using centrifugal force.