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Comparison of the Electrical Properties of PS-PMMA-MWNT Composites Made by Three Different Fabrication Methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 November 2013

Samual J. Wilson  and
Rosario A. Gerhardt
Samual J. Wilson
Affiliation:
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Rosario A. Gerhardt*
Affiliation:
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States.
*
*contact e-mail: rosario.gerhardt@mse.gatech.edu
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Abstract

Polystyrene (PS), polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were used to fabricate conductive nanocomposites using various mixing methods, followed by compression molding to analyze their electrical properties. The main objective of this research project was to evaluate how using different mixing techniques alter the composite microstructure and hence the properties of the resultant composite material. Three fabrication techniques were selected to be investigated: mechanical mixing, melt-mixing, and solution mixing. The concentration of the fillers was kept constant at 2 wt% MWNT to simplify comparisons. After mixing, the composite mixtures were compression molded at the same temperature of 180°C. It was found that each mixing method yielded uniquely different AC conductivity profiles which can be attributed to how the fabrication method used affected the arrangement of the CNTs in the composite structure. This newfound control of the electrical properties of the composite materials could definitely be useful to researchers because one can choose the proper fabrication technique based on what properties are desired.

Keywords

compositeelectrical propertiespolymer
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1453: Symposium GG – Functional Hybrid Nanoparticles and Capsules with Engineered Structures and Properties , 2012 , mrss12-1453-gg09-09
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013 

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