Imparting Cellulosic Paper of High Conductivity by Surface Coating of Dispersed Graphite

Cellulosic paper, when imparted with strong conductivity, may have important applications. In the present work, graphite-based coatings were fabricated and directly applied onto the surface of a low-grade paper made of recycled fibers to produce conductive paper. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-graphite aqueous dispersion was developed, in order to attain the graphite suspensions with high solid content and good dispersion. A coating formula consisting of graphite suspensions, styrene butadiene (SB) latex, and other ingredients was investigated to impart high conductivity to cellulosic paper. Effects of graphite dispersion on the coating viscosity and conductivity of surface coated paper were studied, and the microstructure of surface coated paper was characterized. Results showed that the optimum SDS addition promoted the graphite dispersion, decreased the coating viscosity, and facilitated the formation of uniform and compact coating network structures, all of which contributed to the increased coating layer density, decreased air permeability, and enhanced conductivity.