Electrical properties and morphology of polypropylene/epoxy/glass fiber composites filled with carbon black

Abstract

AbstractThe volume resistivity and percolation thresholds of carbon black (CB) filled polypropylene (PP), PP/epoxy, and PP/epoxy/glass fiber (GF) composites were measured. The morphology of these conductive polymer composites was studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of the GF and epoxy contents on the volume resistivity were also investigated. The PP/epoxy/GF/CB composite exhibited a reduced percolation threshold, in comparison with that of the PP/CB and PP/epoxy/CB composites. At a given CB content, the PP/epoxy/GF/CB composite had a lower volume resistivity than the PP/CB and PP/epoxy/CB composites. SEM micrographs showed that CB aggregates formed chainlike structures and dispersed homogeneously within the PP matrix. The addition of the epoxy resin to PP resulted in the preferential location of CB in epoxy, whereas in the PP/epoxy/GF multiphase blends, because of the good affinity of CB to epoxy and of epoxy to GF, CB particles were located in the epoxy phase coated on GF. The decreased percolation threshold and volume resistivity indicated that conductive paths existed in the PP/epoxy/GF/CB composite. The conductive paths were probably formed through the interconnection of GF. Appropriate amounts of GF and epoxy should be used to decrease the volume resistivity and provide sufficient epoxy coating. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 1142–1149, 2005