The preparation and electrical properties of CB/UHMWPE composites

摘要

Carbon Black/Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (CB/UHMWPE) composites with a segregated structure were prepared through high-speed mechanical mixing and hot pressing at 200 °C. It was found that CB powders were well coated on the surfaces of UHMWPE particles in a very short time. The addition of 2 vol.% CB into UHMWPE matrix resulted in a dramatic increase in electrical conductivity by 14 orders of magnitude. A lower percolation threshold was achieved at the CB concentration of 1 vol.%. The electrical conductivity of CB/UHMWPE composite decreases with hot pressing time. The proposed preparation method is simple and has potential to produce low-cost polymer conductive composites with low percolation threshold.