Electroconductive nylon 6 and copper composites

• Published in: Polymer composites 1995-12, Vol.16 (6), p.536-541
• Main Authors: Larena, Alicia, Pinto, Gabriel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Electrical, magnetic and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Physical properties; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Properties and testing; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.750160613

A study is reported on the effect of the filler size and concentration on the electrical resistivity, density, and hardness of composites made of copper powder embedded in nylon 6 matrix by means of compression molding. The electrical resistivity of the composites is > 1011 ohm·cm unless the metal content reached the percolation threshold, beyond which the resistivity decreased markedly by as much as 1012. The percolation concentration was found to decrease with a decrease in the average particle diameter. The density of the composites was measured and compared with values calculated assuming different void levels within the samples. However, there is no sharp variation in the density due to the onset of percolation. Furthermore, it is shown that a percolation concentration can be also defined in the hardness/metal concentration curves as the intercept of linear regression curves of the low and high metal content regimes, respectively.