Mechanical and Conductive Properties of Carbon Black-filled High-density Polyethylene, Low-density Polyethylene, and Linear Low-density Polyethylene

Abstract

High conductive composites were manufactured using single screw extruder melt compound method with carbon black (CB)-filled high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). A low percolation threshold value was achieved from the composites consisting of 2 wt% CB (Printex) with HDPE (HDPE3690). The impact strength of CB/LDPE and CB/LLDPE composites were almost 20 times higher than that of CB/HDPE3690. The tensile modulus and strength of conductive composites increased with the content of CB. Microstructures of conductive composites were analyzed using scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. At the 2 wt% CB content, the CB particles have built a conductive network, which lead to high conductivity.