Volume-exclusion effects in polyethylene blends filled with carbon black, graphite, or carbon fiber

Conductive polymer composites possessing a low percolation‐threshold concentration as a result of double percolation of a conductive filler and its host phase in an immiscible polymer blend afford a desirable alternative to conventional composites. In this work, blends of high‐density polyethylene (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of polymer science. Part B, Polymer physics Polymer physics, 2002-05, Vol.40 (10), p.1013-1025
Main Authors: Thongruang, Wiriya, Balik, C. Maurice, Spontak, Richard J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
blends
Composites
conductivity
Exact sciences and technology
fillers
Forms of application and semi-finished materials
high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
mechanical properties
percolation threshold
polyethylene (PE)
polymer composite
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Technology of polymers
thermal properties
ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
viscoelasticity
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Summary:Conductive polymer composites possessing a low percolation‐threshold concentration as a result of double percolation of a conductive filler and its host phase in an immiscible polymer blend afford a desirable alternative to conventional composites. In this work, blends of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were used to produce ternary composites containing either carbon black (CB), graphite (G), or carbon fiber (CF). Blend composition had a synergistic effect on electrical conductivity, with pronounced conductivity maxima observed at about 70–80 wt % UHMWPE in the CB and G composites. A much broader maximum occurred at about 25 wt % UHMWPE in composites prepared with CF. Optical and electron microscopies were used to ascertain the extent to which the polymers, and hence filler particles, are segregated. Differential scanning calorimetry of the composites confirmed that the constituent polymers are indistinguishable in terms of their thermal signatures and virtually unaffected by the presence of any of the fillers examined here. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that CF imparts the greatest stiffness and thermal stability to the composites. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1013–1023, 2002
ISSN:0887-6266
1099-0488
DOI:10.1002/polb.10157