MECHANICAL, THERMAL, AND ELECTRICAL-PROPERTIES OF METAL FIBER-FILLED POLYMER COMPOSITES

The critical concentration at which a metal‐filled composite becomes electrically conductive can be dramatically reduced by adding the metal as randomly dispersed fibers. The higher the aspect ratio of the fibers, the lower the concentration needed to induce electrical conductance. Composites exhibiting resistivities below 20 ohm‐cm have been produced with less than 8 volume percent aluminum fibers, having an aspect ratio of 24:1. At low fiber loadings the tensile strength of the composites is similar to that of the unfilled polymer. The thermal properties of these composites are shown to increase monotonically in accordance with the theoretical development of Nielsen. Copyright © 1979 Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc.