Thermodynamically induced self-assembled electrically conductive networks in carbon-black-filled ternary polymer blends

By calculating the surface tensions of the components, composites with innovative thermodynamically induced self-assembled electrically conductive networks were designed, prepared and investigated. Carbon black (CB) was added into a ternary blend system comprised of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), ethyleneacrylic acid copolymer (EAA) and polypropylene (PP). Scanning electron microscopy images show that the PMMA/EAA/PP ternary blend forms a tri-continuous phase structure like a sandwich, in which PMMA and PP form a co-continuous phase while EAA spreads at the interface of the PMMA and PP phases as a sheath. The micrographs and resistivitytemperature characteristic curve results indicate that CB fillers are selectively located at the interface of the PMMA and PP phases, namely the EAA phase. The percolation threshold of PMMA/EAA-CB/PP composites is 0.2 vol%, which is only one-fifth of that of PP/CB composites. (C) 2011 Society of Chemical Industry