Conductivity of a carbon nanotubes-epoxy resin nanocomposite

Abstract

Abstract Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to reduce the electrical resistivity ( i.e. , increase the conductivity) of industrial epoxy. Samples loaded with 6 wt.% CNTs showed a 9-fold increase in the conductivity. The starting epoxy resin is dielectric. The electrical resistivity data showed a percolation threshold between 0.5 and 2 wt.% CNTs loading. The temperature coefficient of electrical resistivity of the samples containing 2 wt.% in the temperature range from 20 to 60°C was 11.5·10 -3 K -1 . These results suggested that the conductivity of the CNTs-epoxy composites is improved, without any need for chemical functionalization of the nanotubes.