Effect of carbon black modified with polyaniline on resistivity behavior of polyethylene/carbon black composites

To obtain a reproducible positive temperature coefficient (PTC) composite with acceptable PTC effect, carbon black (CB) modified with polyaniline (PANI) was prepared by in situ polymerization. The effect of modified CB content on room temperature resistivity, PTC intensity, and reproducibility of resistivity-temperature comparisons in heating/cooling cycles of CB filled low density polyethylene (LDPE) composites is discussed. The results show that CB modified with PANI improved the compatibility and dispersion of CB particles in the matrix, which resulted in a decrease of the percolation threshold and improvement of reproducibility of the PTC effect.