Electrical conductivity of carbon black/fibres filled glass-fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites

The influence of filler structure on electrical and mechanical properties of unidirectional glass-fibre-reinforced polyethylene (GF/PE) has been investigated. Both, carbon black and recycled short carbon fibres were used. The percolation threshold was determined. It depends on the structure of the fillers, filler content and structure of the PE-matrix. An anisotropy of the electrical conductivity was observed only in the range of the percolation threshold. A good correlation was found between mechanical properties and the specific electrical conductivity of the thermoplastic composites. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.