Combination of temperature and electrical conductivity on semiconductor graphite/epoxy composites

The wide use of polymer matrix composites requires a greater understanding of their characteristics, especially the electrical conductivity at different conditions. These materials have attractive combination of properties, and they can replace with lower cost and greater efficiency metallic components. In this work, the electrical conductivity at different temperatures of an epoxy polymer matrix filled with different weight concentrations of low cost graphite powder was investigated. The goal is to analyze the electrical conductivity at temperatures ranging from 20 to 100 degrees C. Such composites combine low cost and reasonable conductivity. The tests have demonstrated that increasing graphite powder content, conductivity also increases, but temperature environment contributes to decrease electrical conductivity.