Polymer/graphite/graphene electrical properties

Mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of polymer/graphite/graphene nanocomposites are described in this section. 

Table 7.2 Electrical properties of graphene/graphite-based polymer composites with various polymer matrices, filler types, and concentration and preparation methods...

Graphene-polymer nanocomposites share with other nanocomposites the characteristic of remarkable improvements in properties and percolation thresholds at very low filler contents. Although the majority of research has focused on polymer nanocomposites based on layered materials of natural origin, such as an MMT type of layered silicate compounds or synthetic clay (layered double hydroxide), the electrical and thermal conductivity of clay minerals are quite poor [177]. To overcome these shortcomings, carbon-based nanofillers, such as CB, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and graphite have been introduced to the preparation of polymer nanocomposites. Among these, carbon nanotubes have proven to be very effective as conductive fillers. An important drawback of them as nanofillers is their high production costs, which... 

Exceptional mechanical properties along with remarkable electronic transport properties and thermal conductivity have made graphene the best carbon filler. Significant enhancement in mechanical properties of graphene-based polymer nanocomposites has been found (even with lower concentration) compared to those of the neat polymer and conventional graphite-based composites. Moreover, graphene/polymer nanocomposites exhibit several-fold increase in electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity. The conductive networks formed by graphene sheets result in considerable increase of the electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity of nanocomposites. As can be observed in Tables 7.1 and 7.2, property enhancements vary... 

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