Electrical Conductivities and Physical and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber (CF) and Carbon Nano-Tube (CNT) Filled Polyolefin Nano-Composites

ABSTRACT

Carbon nano-tube (CNT)- and carbon fiber (CF)-filled polyolefin nano-composites were prepared by melt blending. The water absorption, expansion ratio, electrical conductivities, and physical and mechanical properties of the prepared nano-composites were extensively investigated. The experimental results showed that the water absorption increased with the elapsed time from the starting point when the samples were immersed into the water. The linear expansion ratios of the composites were found to increase gradually with time till reaching an equilibrium value. Composites with excellent dielectric properties could be obtained when the filler content was above the percolation threshold. The addition of CNT and CF resulted in no obvious improvement in mechanical properties in the present study, but both Shore hardness and Vicat softening temperature (VST) of the composites increased with increasing filler content. The present work will be of practical importance to the CNT/CF filler composites design, and optimization of processing variables, as well as the further exploration of the “processing-structure-property” relationship of polyolefin materials.

KEYWORDS:

• carbon nano-tube (CNT)
• carbon fiber (CF)
• electrical conductivity
• mechanical properties
• nano-composites
• Shore hardness

Acknowledgment

The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51203002, 51273001), the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (No. 20113401110003), together with the “211 Project” of Anhui University for their financial support.

Additional information

Funding

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (51203002, 51273001). The Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (No. 20113401110003). The“211 Project” (ZLTS2015059, 201510357142, J01005113 and J18515262) of Anhui University.