Table Of ContentNew Concepts in Polymer Science
Structure and Properties of Conducting Polymer
Composites
New Concepts in Polymer Science
Previous titles in this book series:
Interaction of Polymers with Bioactive and Corrosive Media
A.L. Iordanskii, T.E. Rudakova and G.E. Zaikov
Immobilization on Polymers
M. I. Shtilman
Radiation Chemistry of Polymers
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Polymeric Composites
R. B. Seymour
Reactive Oligomers
S. G: Entelis, V.V. Evreinov and A.I. Kuzaev
Diffusion of Electrolytes in Polymers
G.E. Zaikov, A.L. Iordanskii and V.S. Markin
Chemical Physics of Polymer Degradation and Stabilization
N. M Emanuel and A.L. Buchachenko
Of related interest:
Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology
Editors: K.L. Mittal and W.J. van Ooij
New Polymeric Materials
Editor-in-Chief: F.E. Karasz
Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition
Editors: C.H. Bamford, S.L. Cooper and T. Tsuruta
Composite Interfaces
Editor-in-Chief: H. Ishida
New Concepts in Polymer Science
Structure and Properties of
Conducting Polymer Composites
VE. Gui'
Boca Raton London New York
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CIP-DATA KONINKLIJKE BIBLIOTHEEK, DEN HAAG
Gui' V.E.
Structure and properties of conducting polymer composites /
V.E. Gui'. -Utrecht: VSP. -(New Concepts in Polymer
Science, ISSN 0928-1584)
With ref.
ISBN 90-6764-204-5 bound
NUGI 841
Subject headings: polymers.
Contents
Introduction vii
Chapter 1. The main principles of the increase of electric
conductivity of polymer composites 1
1.1. Various types of filler particle distribution in
polymer matrix 2
1.2. Fractal structure of electrically conductive filler 4
1.3. The formation of electric current path in electrically
conductive polymer composites 8
1.4. Experimental data on organisational forms of
electrically conductive filler particles in a polymer
matrix 15
1.5. Electric conductivity mechanisms of electrically
conductive polymer composites 18
Chapter 2. Selection of basic polymer or polymer matrix 27
2.1. The analysis of exploitation conditions and required
material properties 27
2.2. Polymers most commonly used for processing and
article making 28
2.3. Electrically conductive polymers 34
2.4. Principles of mathematic modelling of ECPC
content selection 54
Chapter 3. Selection of electrically conductive filler 61
3.1. Metal fillers 61
3.1.1. The mechanism of electric conductivity by
particles of metal filler 61
3.1.2. Linear dependence of electric conductivity of
metal-filled ECPC 65
VI Contents
3.1.3. Manufacture and properties of the metal
powder 68
3.1.4. The influence of physical and chemical factors
on the distribution of highly dispersed metal
particles 77
3.1.5. Compulsory formation of current conductive
paths in ECPCs 78
3.1.6. The influence of metal fillers on ECPC
properties 90
3.1.7. The influence of magnetic field on the
properties of ECPCs 102
3.2. Carbon-graphite fillers 105
3.2.1. The influence of structure and chemical
composition of particle surface of
carbon-graphite fillers on electric conductivity
of ECPCs 105
3.2.2. Methods of increasing electric conductivity in
ECPCs with carbon graphite fillers 112
3.3. Electron self-conductive polymers 123
Chapter 4. Estimation of working ability of electrically
conductive polymers 147
Chapter 5. The main spheres of ECPC application 167
5.1. The principles of application of ECPCs instead of
traditional materials 167
5.2. Some spheres of ECPC application 168
5.2.1. Electromagnetic radiation shielding 168
5.2.2. Antistatic articles 170
5.2.3. Heaters 173
5.2.4. Resistors and transducers 179
5.2.5. Assembling of electronic device components 183
5.2.6. Medicinal goods 184
5.2.7. Cables 185
5.2.8. Articles for technical purposes 186
5.2.9. Other articles made from ECPCs 188
5.3. Conclusion 190
References 193
Introduction
The development of the principles of electrically conductive polymer compos-
ites and the creation of a wide variety of such materials are, no doubt, among
the most important events of the 20-th century.
A combination of unusual and valuable properties of polymer materials made
them practically irreplaceable in many applications in science and technology.
Thus, for example, it is impossible to find an alternative solution for apply-
ing elastomers that are capable of deforming by a thousand per cent and then
restoring their initial form after the applied force is removed. If, for what-
ever reason, humankind had no possibility of using polymer materials, then
the development of civilization would have followed a different path. For ex-
ample, aircraft could not (because of the absence of the material for inner
tire and protectors) be landed at current speeds. And there are many such
examples.
However, for a long time, polymer materials were excluded from a number of
applications which required electrical conductivity. If one obtained a polymer
material that was electrically conductive, it usually was a solid-like substance,
which would decompose on melting. Consequently, its processing and forming
into various articles met extraordinary difficulties.
The situation changed radically when it was found that the introduction of
some kinds of carbon black into elastomer compositions produced a new prop-
erty — electrical conductivity [1].
The study of this phenomenon has shown that a polymer composition begins
conducting electricity at a certain threshold concentration of additive [2, 3].
B.A. Dogadkin has shown that not all kinds of carbon black are able to give
the elastomer composition the ability to conduct electric current. Such a prop-
erty is provided by carbon whose particles are distributed in the polymer matrix
as chain structures and not as lumps [2].
The development of electron microscopy as a method of studying polymer
composition established an important law that holds for all known polymer
compositions with an electrically conductive filler. The law says: providing
certain other conditions are fulfilled, the composition becomes electrically con-
ductive when particles of electrically conductive filler form a continuous chain
structure, penetrating the material from the point of entry of electric current to
viii Introduction
the place where it leaves the polymer material [4-8]. The condition for the
formation of such structures is the presence of the definite picture of interac-
tion between polymer and low-molecular electrically conductive components
[8, pp. 12-13]. Soon after, the idea of the compulsoriness of the formation of
chain structures of electrically conductive components was realized in practice
(see for example [9-17]).
Thus, at present, conditions exist to obtain articles from polymer materials
with a range of specific properties and which are able to conduct electric cur-
rent in given directions. It has become possible to form electrically conductive
structures of any configuration, which penetrate the volume of the polymer
composition.
The practical significance of scientific research, aimed in this direction could
not be over-estimated. Thus at present, for example, resistors in microelec-
tronic devices (including electrically conductive compositions) are included
into the structure of some 50-60% of components. Adhesives based on elec-
trically conductive polymer compositions (ECPCs) are often used for con-
nection of hybrid integral and printed plates. Their principal advantage is
that their application can help to avoid using soldering in cases when the
article could not stand high temperatures. Of equal importance for prac-
tical application are the questions of the creation of many point contacts
[9-12]. A special chapter (Chapter 5) is devoted to practical applications
of ECPCs.
Electric current passing through an ECPC is accompanied by sufficient
changes of direction and the rate of degradation processes. The study of
such processes is important not just for preventing unwanted degradation pro-
cesses, but for prognosis of the working life of articles that are produced from
ECPCs [18].
The exhaustion of the interior of the Earth, which is connected with the con-
tinuous digging out of mineral resources, the occurrence of ozone holes, the
appearance of the hotbed effect and other ecological factors made it necessary
for us to use raw resources and energy more efficiently.
In developed countries, a decrease of landfill sites and profligate use of
metals and other materials that require a lot of raw mineral resources and
energy are observed. However, heavy metals play less and less role in the
production of materials. The application of ECPCs instead of metal wires
can become one factor contributing to an improvement of the ecological situ-
ation.
The present monograph is devoted to the above mentioned aspects of the
problem of the structure and properties of electrically conductive polymer com-
posites. This is the first attempt to systematize modem ideas on the intercon-
nection of the structure and properties of ECPCs with particular reference to
the influence of electric current on the kinetics and the direction of chemical
processes of interaction of such systems with air oxygen. This monograph will
undoubtedly have its shortcomings, but the author gives his grateful thanks to
Introduction IX
his colleagues who felt able to make their comments and suggestions on the
subject.
