Synergistic effects of carbon black and carbon nanotubes on the electrical resistivity of poly(butylene-terephthalate) nanocomposites

In this study, novel electrically conductive polymeric nanocomposites based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) filled with commercial carbon black (CB) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at different relative ratios have been investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis revealed how a good nanofiller dispersion was obtained both by introducing CB and CNT. Melt flow index measurements highlighted that the processability of the nanocomposites was heavily compromised at elevated filler amounts, and the viscosity percolation threshold was established at 3 wt% for CNTs and between 6 and 10 wt% for CB nanocomposites. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements evidenced how the presence of CNT slightly increased the glass transition temperature of the materials, and an increase of 12°C of the crystallization temperature was obtained with a CNT amount of 6 wt%. Also the crystalline fraction was increased upon CNT addition. Electrical resistivity measurements evidenced that the most interesting results were obtained for nanocomposites with a total filler content of 6 wt% and a CNT/CB relative amount equal to 2:1. The synergistic effect obtained with the combination of both nanofillers allowed the achievement of a rapid surface heating through Joule effect even at applied voltages of 2 V.