Electrical conductivity of carbon black filled polymers—effects of morphology and processing

Abstract

Abstract This paper discusses the relation of the morphology of conductive carbon black and its critical volume fraction, ϕ c , required to achieve semiconductor property. We also discuss the influence of processing on the electrical conductivity of polymer composites. An equation based on the crowding factor of concentrated suspension rheology and Janzen's particle contacts percolation is proposed to describe the relationship between ϕ c , and the maximum packing fraction of conductive fillers. The relationship could explain the influence of particle morphology on conductivity and the conductivity difference in the high shear and low shear region of a processed polymer composite part.