EFFECT OF FILLER LOADING CONCENTRATION, CURING TEMPERATURE AND MOLDING PRESSURE ON THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF CNTS/GRAPHITE/ EPOXY NANOCOMPOSITES AT HIGH LOADING OF CONDUCTIVE FILLERS

Effect of filler loading concentration, curing temperature and molding pressure on the electrical conductivity of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs)/Graphite/Epoxy nanocomposites at high loading of conductive fillers were investigated. Dispersion and incorporation mechanism between two conductive fillers with different sizes (CNTs and Graphite) in the polymer matrix are the key factors in the fabrication of high electrical conductivity plate. Different loading concentration of CNTs (0~5 wt. %) and graphite (40 ~ 80 wt. %) were dispersed in epoxy resin by a high speed mechanical mixer. Plates were than formed by compression molding. The electrical conductivity of the molded plates were measured by the four point probe method. The electrical conductivity measured the significance of variation in loading concentration, curing temperature and molding pressure. Additional of 5 wt.% of CNTs to graphite/epoxy matrix showed tremendous increase of the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites, approximately 200% higher than the graphite/epoxy composite at the same amount of conducting filler loading concentration. The dispersion quality of single filler composite (graphite/epoxy) and hybrid fillers nanocomposites (CNTs/graphite/epoxy) was observed on the fractured surface by scanning electron microscopic