The electrical conductivity of carbon-fibre-reinforced polypropylene/polyaniline complex-blends: experimental characterisation and modelling

The aim of this study is to characterise and model the electrical conductiv ity of carbon-fibre-reinforced polypropylene/polyaniline-complex blends. A correlation between the electrical conductivity and the microstructure of b oth the blends and the composites was found; the fibre concentration, orien tation and average length affected the electrical conductivity. In addition , a synergy effect between PANI-complex and carbon fibres in the polypropyl ene matrix regarding the electrical conductivity occurred. In particular, t he percolation threshold of carbon-fibre composites was moved towards a red uced fibre content when the blend consisted of both PANI-complex and carbon fibre. A fibre-contact model was used to describe the electrical conductiv ity of carbon-fibre-composites and PANI-complex-blends. It was expanded to predict also the synergy effect between LCF and PANT-complex. The predictio ns were in good agreement with the experimental data. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.