The effective conductivity of polymer carbon nanotubes (CNT) nanocomposites

Abstract

This paper suggests a simple equation for effective conductivity of polymer carbon nanotubes (CNT) nanocomposites (PCNT) by the properties of CNT, interphase and tunneling regions as well as the fraction of networked CNT after percolation threshold. Moreover, the simple and applicable equations express the effective filler concentration, percolation threshold, waviness, the percentages of CNT in the networks and the intrinsic resistances of CNT, interphase and tunneling spaces. The effective conductivity is calculated at different levels of all parameters to determine the optimized levels and justify the developed model. The effective conductivity directly changes with CNT length, filler concentration, interphase thickness, the percentages of CNT in the networks and contact diameter. However, the low levels of percolation threshold, CNT radius, tunneling resistivity and tunneling distance grow the effective conductivity. Additionally, the different values of some parameters including CNT conductivity, waviness and interphase conductivity cannot modulate the effective conductivity.