Electrical resistivity of carbon black-filled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composite containing radiation crosslinked HDPE particles

The room-temperature volume resistivity of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) carbon black (CB) blends containing previously radiation crosslinked HDPE p owder was studied. The results showed that the room-temperature volume resi stivity decreases with increasing concentration of crosslinked HDPE powder. It is considered that the crosslinked HDPE particles act as a filler that increases the CB volume fraction in the HDPE matrix. The results of an opti cal microscope observation indicated that the crosslinked polymer particles are dispersed in the HDPE/CB composite. This effect of the crosslinked par ticles is attributed to the fact that the crosslinked mesh size of the HDPE particles is so small that the CB particles cannot go inside them. The eff ect of Co-60 gamma -ray and electron beam (EB) irradiation on the positive temperature coefficient, negative temperature coefficient and electrical re sistivity behavior of the blends were studied. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Lt d. All rights reserved.