scholarly journals 3D Monte Carlo simulation modeling for the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube-incorporated polymer nanocomposite using resistance network formation

Author(s):  
Nanzhu Zhao 1 ◽  
Yongha Kim 1 ◽  
Joseph H. Koo 1

High electrical and thermal conductivity associated with high stiffness and strength offer tremendous opportunities to the development of a series of carbon nanotube incorporated composite materials for a variety of applications. In particular, a small amount of carbon fibers or carbon nanotubes in a non-conductive polymer will transform a composite into a conductive material, which reveals superb potential of their future application in electronic devices. The relation between the amount of carbon nanotubes in a polymer and the electrical conductivity of it can be studied experimentally as well as theoretically with various simulation models. A three-dimensional (3D) Monte Carlo simulation model using resistance network formation was developed to study the relation between the electrical conductivity of the polymer nanocomposite and the amount of carbon nanotubes dispersed in it. In this model, carbon nanotubes were modeled as curvy cylindrical nanotubes with various lengths and fixed tube diameter, all of which were randomly distributed in a non-conductive constrained volume, which represents polymer. The model can be used to find the volumetric electrical resistance of a constrained cubic structure by forming a comprehensive resistance network among all of the nanotubes in contact. As more and more nanotubes were added into the volume, the electrical conductivity of the volume increases exponentially. However, once the amount of carbon nanotubes reached about 0.1 % vt (volume percentage), electrical percolation was detected, which was consistent with the experimental results. This model can be used to estimate the electrical conductivity of the composite matrix as well as to acquire the electrical percolation threshold.

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mierczynska ◽  
J. Friedrich ◽  
H. Maneck ◽  
G. Boiteux ◽  
J. Jeszka

AbstractIn this work we present the preparation of conductive polyethylene/carbon nanotube composites based on the segregated network concept. Attention has been focused on the effect of decreasing the amount of filler necessary to achieve low resistivity. Using high- and low-grade single-walled carbon nanotube materials we obtained conductive composites with a low percolation threshold of 0.5 wt.% for high-grade nanotubes, about 1 wt% for commercial nanotubes and 1.5 wt% for low-grade material. The higher percolation threshold for low-grade material is related to low effectiveness of other carbon fractions in the network formation. The electrical conductivity was measured as a function of the single-walled carbon nanotubes content in the polymer matrix and as a function of temperature. It was also found that processing parameters significantly influenced the electrical conductivity of the composites. Raman spectroscopy was applied to study single wall nanotubes in the conductive composites.


2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 045101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Choon Lee ◽  
Gyemin Kwon ◽  
Heesuk Kim ◽  
Hyun-Jung Lee ◽  
Bong June Sung

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1355
Author(s):  
Astrid Diekmann ◽  
Marvin C. V. Omelan ◽  
Ulrich Giese

Incorporating nanofillers into elastomers leads to composites with an enormous potential regarding their properties. Unfortunately, nanofillers tend to form agglomerates inhibiting adequate filler dispersion. Therefore, different carbon nanotube (CNT) pretreatment methods were analyzed in this study to enhance the filler dispersion in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/CNT-composites. By pre-dispersing CNTs in solvents an increase in electrical conductivity could be observed within the sequence of tetrahydrofuran (THF) > acetone > chloroform. Optimization of the pre-dispersion step results in an AC conductivity of 3.2 × 10−4 S/cm at 1 Hz and 0.5 wt.% of CNTs and the electrical percolation threshold is decreased to 0.1 wt.% of CNTs. Optimum parameters imply the use of an ultrasonic finger for 60 min in THF. However, solvent residues cause a softening effect deteriorating the mechanical performance of these composites. Concerning the pretreatment of CNTs by physical functionalization, the use of surfactants (sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (“Brij35”)) leads to no improvement, neither in electrical conductivity nor in mechanical properties. Chemical functionalization enhances the compatibility of PDMS and CNT but damages the carbon nanotubes due to the oxidation process so that the improvement in conductivity and reinforcement is superimposed by the CNT damage even for mild oxidation conditions.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096739112110012
Author(s):  
Qingsen Gao ◽  
Jingguang Liu ◽  
Xianhu Liu

The effect of annealing on the electrical and rheological properties of polymer (poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS)) composites filled with carbon black (CB) was investigated. For a composite with CB content near the electrical percolation threshold, the formation of conductive pathways during annealing has a significant impact on electrical conductivity, complex viscosity, storage modulus and loss modulus. For the annealed samples, a reduction in the electrical and rheological percolation threshold was observed. Moreover, a simple model is proposed to explain these behaviors. This finding emphasizes the differences in network formation with respect to electrical or rheological properties as both properties belong to different physical origins.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 4859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuming Liu ◽  
Steven L. Jacques ◽  
Mehdi Azimipour ◽  
Jeremy D. Rogers ◽  
Ramin Pashaie ◽  
...  

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