Effect of dispersion and orientation of dispersed phase on mechanical and electrical conductivity.

Melt mixed polypropylene/polyamide 6 (PA6) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were molded by compression, injection, and interval injection molding. PA phase exists as an isolated dispersed phase in the sea–island system with different phase orientations and dispersion degrees. CNTs prefer to be located in the minor PA phase because of their remarkable compatibility. However, when the content of CNTs is high enough, a conductive path can be formed regardless of the phase morphology. Moreover, when the CNT content is low, the dispersed PA forms an unelongated structure, which is beneficial to electrical conductivity. Although the elongated PA phase holds advantages in terms of its tensile properties, its conductivity network is defective. These results were proposed to uncover the influence of dispersed phase morphology on mechanical and electrical conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]