Electrical Properties of Isotactic Polypropylene/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Composites Prepared by Vibration Injection Molding

Abstract

To study the effect of vibration field on the electrical conductivity properties of nanocomposites, isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) composites were prepared by conventional injection molding and vibration injection molding. Results showed that the electrical conductivity of iPP/MWCNT composites was significantly promoted by vibration injection molding. Vibration injection molded samples had a percolation threshold of about 2.7 wt% compared with the threshold of about 4.5 wt% for conventional injection molded samples. The effects of test locations and vibration frequency on the electrical conductivity of composites were investigated. The samples exhibited an inhomogeneity along the injection direction. The electrical conductivity of the samples was different at different test locations and increased with increasing vibration frequency. Polarized light microscopy (PLM) results indicated that vibration injection molding can induce MWCNT aggregates to be stretched and oriented along the flow direction, which could form conductive networks and greatly enhance the electrical conductivity of iPP/MWCNT composites.