Rheology, Morphology and Electrical Conductivity of Polyethylene (PE)/Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) Blends Filled with Carbon Black

In this research with main objective of preparing semi-conductive compunds of carbon black (CB) filled polyethylene (PE)/ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) blends applied for medium volatge cables, the effect of carbon black amount (10, 15, 20 wt.%) on PE/EVA (50/50 wt.%) blend electrical resistivity in relation to its rhological and microstructure characteristics is investigated. Electrical resistivity measurments indicate only the blend with 15 wt.% of CB could act as a semi-conductive compund. Rheologcal studies and SEM micrograpghs observations reveal, incontrary to the blend with 10 wt.% CB, there is interconection between CB particles in both the blends with 15 wt.% and 20 wt.% CB. However, CB intercnection is less for the blend with 15 wt.% CB, so that this concentration of CB is predicted around the percolation thershould