Dielectric studies of conductive carbon black reinforced microcellular ethylene-propylene-diene monomer vulcanizates

摘要

The alternating-current and electrical conductivity of conductive, carbon black reinforced, microcellular ethylene-propylene-diene monomer vulcanizates was measured in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 1 MHz. The effects of variations in the filler and blowing-agent loadings on the dielectric constant and percolation behavior were studied. The phenomenon of percolation was examined on the basis of measured changes in the electrical conductivity and morphology of composites with different concentrations of the filler. Scanning electron microphotographs showed the agglomeration of the filler above these concentrations and the formation of a continuous network structure. The experimental results were not in agreement with the predictions of the statistical percolation theory; this deviation was explained in light of the formation of an interphase or mesostructure in the composites. The variation of the dielectric constant with the filler and blowing-agent loadings was explained on the basis of polarization of the filler in the polymer matrix. Additionally, the use of dielectric mixture laws in describing the dielectric constants of both solid and microcellular composites was investigated. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals Inc.