Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T22:01:32.959Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The experimental determination of the onset of electrical and thermal conductivity percolation thresholds in carbon nanotube-polymer composites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2011

Byung-wook Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, USA
Steven Pfeifer
Affiliation:
Materials Science Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, San Diego, USA
Sung-Hoon Park
Affiliation:
Materials Science Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, San Diego, USA
Prabhakar R. Bandaru
Affiliation:
Materials Science Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, San Diego, USA
Get access

Abstract

We show evidence of electrical and thermal conductivity percolation in polymer based carbon nanotube (CNT) composites, which follow power law variations with respect to the CNT concentrations in the matrix. The experimentally obtained percolation thresholds, i.e., ~ 0.074 vol % for single walled CNTs and ~ 2.0 vol % for multi-walled CNTs, were found to be aspect ratio dependent and in accordance with those determined theoretically from excluded volume percolation theory. A much greater enhancement, over 10 orders of magnitude, was obtained in the electrical conductivity at the percolation threshold, while a smaller increase of ~ 100 % was obtained in the thermal conductivity values. Such a difference is qualitatively explained on the basis of the respective conductivity contrast between the CNT filler and the polymer matrix.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Chung, D. D. L., Carbon 39, 279285 (2001).Google Scholar
2. Al-Saleh, M. and Sundararaj, U., Macromolecular Materials and Engineering 293, 621630 (2008).Google Scholar
3. Park, S.-H., Thielemann, P. T., Asbeck, P. M., and Bandaru, P. R., IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology 9 464 (2010).Google Scholar
4. , E.. Rashid, S. A., Ariffin, K., Akil, H. M., and Kooi, C. C., Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites 27, 15731584 (2008).Google Scholar
5. Liu, Z., Bai, G., Huang, Y., Li, F., Ma, Y., Guo, T., He, X., Lin, X., Gao, H., and Chen, Y., Journal of Physical Chemistry C 111, 1369613700 (2007).Google Scholar
6. Lin, Y., Meziani, M. J., and Sun, Y.-P., Journal of Materials Chemistry 17, 11431148 (2007).Google Scholar
7. Moniruzzaman, M. and Winey, K. I., Macromolecules 39, 51945205 (2006).Google Scholar
8. Li, N., Huang, Y., Du, F., He, X., Lin, X., Gao, H., Ma, Y., Li, F., Chen, Y., and Eklund, P. C., Nanoletters 6, 11411145 (2006).Google Scholar
9. Saib, A., Bednarz, L., Daussin, R., Bailly, C., Lou, X., Thomassin, J. M., Pagnoulle, C., Detrembleur, C., Jérôme, R., and Huynen, I., IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 54, 27452754 (2006).Google Scholar
10. Ajayan, P., Schadler, L. S., Giannaris, C., and Rubio, A., Advanced Materials 12, 750753 (2000).Google Scholar
11. Kirkpatrick, S., Reviews of Modern Physics 45, 574588 (1973).Google Scholar
12. Nichols, J. A., Saito, H., Deck, C., and Bandaru, P. R., Journal of Appled Physics 102, 064306 (2007).Google Scholar
13. Borca-Tasciuc, T., Kumar, A. R., and Chen, G., Review of Scientific Instruments 72, 21392147 (2001).Google Scholar
14. Pfeifer, S., Park, S. H., and Bandaru, P. R., Journal of Applied Physics 108, 024305 (2010).Google Scholar
15. Straley, J. P., Physical Review B 15, 57335737 (1977).Google Scholar