Effective multifunctionality of poly(p-phenylene sulfide) nanocomposites filled with different amounts of carbon nanotubes, graphite, and short carbon fibers

The aim of this work was the fundamental research on multifunctional properties of poly(p-phenylene sulfide) composites using commercially available multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) in combination with micro-scale short carbon fibers (SCF) and graphite as fillers. Systematic combinations of the three fillers were investigated to explore the efficiency of the respective single fillers in combined systems. It could be demonstrated that MWNT are the most effective filler for realizing electrical conductivity, whereas SCF are favorable to improve mechanical and tribological properties, and graphite is good for improving the tribological properties too. Multimodally filled composites resulted in the best overall property profile. Existing synergies between SCF and MWNT with regard to the electrical conductivity, especially near to the percolation threshold, were modeled using a modified mixture rule, based on the general effective media theory. (c) 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers