Isothermal-Treatment-Induced Network Formation of Carbon Black in Isotactic Polypropylene/Carbon Black Composites

Abstract

The effect of isothermal treatment on network formation of nanoscale dispersed carbon black (CB) particles in mild-compounded isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/CB composite is investigated. Network formation of CB took place in a quiescent melt without any flow and expansion since the isothermal treatment of the composite was carried out under high pressure conditions. TEM was used to inspect the network formation of the well-dispersed CB. Resistivity temperature and dynamic rheological behaviors of samples before and after isothermal treatment were examined to investigate the relationship between fillers’ network formation and electrical conductivity enhancement.

Keywords:

• conductivity
• isothermal treatment
• isotactic polypropylene/carbon black
• mild-compounding
• network formation

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of this work by the National Natural Science Foundation Commission of China (grant no. 10590351).