The role of disorder on the AC and DC electrical conductivity of vapour grown carbon nanofibre/epoxy composites

Four dispersion methods were used for the preparation of vapour grown carbon nanofibre (VGCNF)/epoxy composites. It is shown that each method induces certain levels of VGCNF dispersion and distribution within the matrix, and that these have a strong influence on the composite electrical properties....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lanceros-Méndez, S. (author)
Other Authors: Cardoso, Paulo (author), Klosterman, D. (author), Covas, J. A. (author), Hattum, F. W. J. van (author), Simões, Ricardo (author), Silva, Jaime (author)
Format: article
Language:eng
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1822/22691
Country:Portugal
Oai:oai:repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt:1822/22691
Description
Summary:Four dispersion methods were used for the preparation of vapour grown carbon nanofibre (VGCNF)/epoxy composites. It is shown that each method induces certain levels of VGCNF dispersion and distribution within the matrix, and that these have a strong influence on the composite electrical properties. A homogenous VGCNF dispersion does not necessarily imply higher electrical conductivity. In fact, it is concluded that the presence of well distributed clusters, rather than a fine dispersion, is more important for achieving larger conductivities for a given VGCNF concentration. It is also found that the conductivity can be described by a weak disorder regime.