Electrical conductivity of polyethylene/epoxy/graphite/carbon black composites: synergy of blend immiscibility and hybrid filler

Polyethylene (PE)/epoxy (EP) blends filled with graphite/carbon black (G/CB) hybrid filler were prepared and characterized in terms of electrical conductivity. As the total filler content increased, electrical conductivity of the PE/EP/G/CB composites increased while conductivity anisotropy decreased. Also, PE/EP/G/CB composites exhibited higher electrical conductivities than the filled individual polymers and PE/EP/G composites at the same filler contents. More continuous conductive networks caused by the synergistic effect of immiscible blend matrix and G/CB hybrid filler led to significant improvement in the overall electrical conductivities of the PE/EP/G/CB composites. This work provides a good insight for further explorations into conducting polymer-graphite composites.