Preparation of polymer/graphite conducting nanocomposite by intercalation polymerization

An in situ polymerization was conducted in the presence of expanded graphit e obtained by rapid heating of the graphite intercalation compound (GIC) to form a polymer/expanded graphite conducting composite. Study showed that t he graphite was dispersed in the form of nanosheets in the polymer matrix. The transition from an electrical insulator to an electrical semiconductor for the composite occurred when the expanded graphite content was 1.8 wt %, which was much lower than that of conventional conducting polymer composit e. The composite exhibited high electrical conductivity of 10(-2) S/cm when the graphite content was 3.0 wt %. This great improvement of conductivity could be attributed to the high aspect ratio (width-to-thickness) of the gr aphite nanosheets. Study suggested that extensive rolling of the blend grea tly affected the conductivity of the composite. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.