Interphase approach for modeling the DC conductivity of diverse allotropic types of carbon-reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

This work is based on a generalized effective medium-modified model for predicting the DC electrical conductivity of polymer composites, taken into account the interactions between the components using an interphase approach. Generalized effective medium-modified model is a simple extension of the Generalized Effective Medium Theory proposed by McLachlan. We studied the modeling of the DC electrical conductivity using the proposed model for diverse allotropic types of carbon-reinforced polymer composites. Three series of composite materials obtained by mixing an insulating matrix DGEBA with (i) carbon nanotubes which are one-dimensional materials (1 D), (ii) reduced graphene oxide, which is a two-dimensional material (2 D) and (iii) carbon black, which is a three-dimensional material (3 D) have been studied. Predictions from the model are in good agreement with the experimental data of the electrical conductivity of composite materials, where the classical models have not been able to explain them. Moreover, in this paper, the effects of the filler dimension on the interphase properties of the composite materials, in particular the interphase volume fraction and the interphase conductivity, have been investigated.