Rescaled electrical properties of ZnO/low density polyethylene nanocomposites

ZnO/low density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposites were prepared using melt mixing with good dispersion of the ZnO nanoparticles. The electrical properties (dc resistivity and breakdown strength) of the composite with various concentrations of ZnO up to the percolation limit were measured and compared to the corresponding electrical properties of submicron ZnO filled LDPE. It was observed that the nanocomposites exhibited a lower percolation limit and a slower decrease in resistivity with filler concentration compared to the conventional composite. The dielectric breakdown strength was also found to be higher for the nanocomposite at high filler concentration. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.