Electrical properties of nanocomposites subjected to deformation

The electrophysical properties of a new type of nanocomposites are consider ed. In these materials, the metallic granules are distributed in a rubberli ke matrix. Nanocomposites exhibit either metallic or hopping conduction, de pending on the bulk concentration of the metallic granules. The effect of p ressure (for hydrostatic compression and for uniaxial deformation) upon the resistance of such composites is studied in both conduction regimes. The p ractically important extremely strong dependence of their resistance upon p ressure in the hopping conduction regime is a consequence of the exponentia lly strong dependence of the probability of intergranule electron tunneling on the distance between the granules. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica" .