Strengthened electrically conductive composite materials based on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene reactor powder and nanosized carbon fillers

Abstract

Electrically conducting samples of polymer composites of different compositions based on the reactor powder of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with a special morphology filled with fine powders of graphite, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and electrically conducting carbon black (CB) are investigated. Strengthened oriented electrically conductive polymer composites possessing high tensile strength and conductivity values are obtained by the compaction of mechanical mixtures of the polymer and fillers powders, followed by the uniaxial deformation of materials under homogeneous shear conditions. Changes in the electrical conductivity of oriented composite materials during reversible “tension-contraction” cycles along the orientation axis direction are studied. The influence of the type of nanosized carbon filler on the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of strengthened conductive composites oriented under homogeneous shear conditions is investigated.