Conductive polymer composites: comparative study of poly(ester)-short carbon fibres and poly(epoxy)-short carbon fibres mechanical and electrical properties

The effect of the addition of short carbon fibres (SCF) on the mechanical and electrical properties of conductive polymer composites (CPC) with poly(ester) and poly(epoxy) matrices has been studied. The reinforcement effect of (SCF) filled thermosets CPC is more important with poly(epoxy) than with poly(ester) matrix. Electrical measurements show a small amplitude PTC effect between 90 and 160 degreesC. The percolation threshold is reached for about 1% v/v SCF and higher conductivity is obtained with poly(ester) matrix. Up to 3% v/v, a good correlation is found between resistivity and relative Young's modulus. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.