RESISTIVITY OF EPOXIDIZED STYRENE-BUTADIENE-CUPRIC OXIDE POLYMER

Resistivity measurements versus temperature between 80 and 300 K are p resented for a new compound consisting of epoxidized styrene-butadiene copolymer with star configuration and cupric oxide (CuO). For a certa in concentration, 80 wt.% CuO, for which the CuO molecules are in 'con tact', the polymer becomes conductive. For a lower concentration in Cu O, the material becomes insulating, though, for a concentration higher than 80 wt.% CuO, the polymer disintegrates. The addition of CuS to t he epoxidized styrene-butadiene matrix leads to a material less conduc tive than CuS, though IrO2 and TiO2, which contain oxygen but not Cu, Corm insulating materials. In addition, styrene-butadiene copolymer wi th configuration different than the 'star' one does not become conduct ive with the addition of any of the oxides or CuS mentioned above. Fro m these properties the crucial role of the polymer structure, oxygen a nd copper in the electrical conduction of the styrene-butadiene-CuO po lymer becomes apparent. Moreover, the conductivity of the epoxidized s tyrene-butadiene-CuO polymer is not thermally activated and its temper ature dependence resembles a metal.