Electrically and thermally conductive nylon 6,6

Abstract

Abstract Increasing the thermal and electrical conductivity of typically insulating polymers, such as nylon 6,6, opens new markets. A thermally conductive resin can be used for heat sink applications. An electrically conductive resin can be used in static dissipative and Electromagnetic Interference/Radio Frequency Interference shielding applications. This research focused on adding various carbon based conductive fillers and a chopped glass fiber to nylon 6,6. These materials were extruded and injection molded into test specimens. Tensile tests as well as in‐plane electrical resistivity, in‐plane thermal conductivity, and through‐plane thermal conductivity tests were conducted. One successful formulation consisted of 10% 3.2 mm chopped E‐glass fiber/15% Thermocarb (high quality synthetic powdered graphite)/5% carbon black/70% nylon 6,6 (all % in wt%). For this formulation, the in‐plane electrical resistivity was reduced from 10 15 ohm‐cm (neat nylon 6,6) to 15 ohm‐cm. The through‐plane thermal conductivity increased from 0.25 W/mK (neat nylon 6,6) to 0.7 W/mK. The tensile elongation at failure was 1.4%.