Electrical and Electro-Thermal Characteristics of (Carbon Black-Graphite)/LLDPE Composites with PTC Effect
Electrical properties and electro-thermal behavior were studied in composites with carbon black (CB) or hybrid filler (CB and graphite) and a matrix of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). LLDPE, a (co)polymer with low crystallinity but with high structural regularity, was less studied for <i...
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/5/1224 |
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| author | Eduard-Marius Lungulescu Cristina Stancu Radu Setnescu Petru V. Notingher Teodor-Adrian Badea |
| author_facet | Eduard-Marius Lungulescu Cristina Stancu Radu Setnescu Petru V. Notingher Teodor-Adrian Badea |
| author_sort | Eduard-Marius Lungulescu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electrical properties and electro-thermal behavior were studied in composites with carbon black (CB) or hybrid filler (CB and graphite) and a matrix of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). LLDPE, a (co)polymer with low crystallinity but with high structural regularity, was less studied for <i>Positive Temperature Coefficient</i> (PTC) applications, but it would be of interest due to its higher flexibility as compared to HDPE. Structural characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed a segregated structure resulted from preparation by solid state powder mixing followed by hot molding. Direct current (DC) conductivity measurements resulted in a percolation threshold of around 8% (w) for CB/LLDPE composites. Increased filler concentrations resulted in increased alternating current (AC) conductivity, electrical permittivity and loss factor. Resistivity-temperature curves indicate the dependence of the temperature at which the maximum of resistivity is reached (T<sub>max(R)</sub>) on the filler concentration, as well as a differentiation in the T<sub>max(R)</sub> from the crystalline transition temperatures determined by DSC. These results suggest that crystallinity is not the only determining factor of the PTC mechanism in this case. This behavior is different from similar high-crystallinity composites, and suggests a specific interaction between the conductive filler and the polymeric matrix. A strong dependence of the PTC effect on filler concentration and an optimal concentration range between 14 and 19% were also found. Graphite has a beneficial effect not only on conductivity, but also on PTC behavior. <i>Temperature</i> vs. <i>time</i> experiments, revealed good temperature self-regulation properties and current and voltage limitation, and irrespective of the applied voltage and composite type, the equilibrium superficial temperature did not exceed 80 °C, while the equilibrium current traversing the sample dropped from 22 mA at 35 V to 5 mA at 150 V, proving the limitation capacities of these materials. The concentration effects revealed in this work could open new perspectives for the compositional control of both the self-limiting and interrupting properties for various low-temperature applications. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:25:50Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-c0241e91070b4bf58e40f6de45839b612024-03-12T16:49:43ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442024-03-01175122410.3390/ma17051224Electrical and Electro-Thermal Characteristics of (Carbon Black-Graphite)/LLDPE Composites with PTC EffectEduard-Marius Lungulescu0Cristina Stancu1Radu Setnescu2Petru V. Notingher3Teodor-Adrian Badea4National Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering ICPE-CA, 313 Splaiul Unirii, 030138 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Electrical Engineering, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering ICPE-CA, 313 Splaiul Unirii, 030138 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Electrical Engineering, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaRomanian Research and Development Institute for Gas Turbines COMOTI, 220D Iuliu Maniu Av., 061126 Bucharest, RomaniaElectrical properties and electro-thermal behavior were studied in composites with carbon black (CB) or hybrid filler (CB and graphite) and a matrix of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). LLDPE, a (co)polymer with low crystallinity but with high structural regularity, was less studied for <i>Positive Temperature Coefficient</i> (PTC) applications, but it would be of interest due to its higher flexibility as compared to HDPE. Structural characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed a segregated structure resulted from preparation by solid state powder mixing followed by hot molding. Direct current (DC) conductivity measurements resulted in a percolation threshold of around 8% (w) for CB/LLDPE composites. Increased filler concentrations resulted in increased alternating current (AC) conductivity, electrical permittivity and loss factor. Resistivity-temperature curves indicate the dependence of the temperature at which the maximum of resistivity is reached (T<sub>max(R)</sub>) on the filler concentration, as well as a differentiation in the T<sub>max(R)</sub> from the crystalline transition temperatures determined by DSC. These results suggest that crystallinity is not the only determining factor of the PTC mechanism in this case. This behavior is different from similar high-crystallinity composites, and suggests a specific interaction between the conductive filler and the polymeric matrix. A strong dependence of the PTC effect on filler concentration and an optimal concentration range between 14 and 19% were also found. Graphite has a beneficial effect not only on conductivity, but also on PTC behavior. <i>Temperature</i> vs. <i>time</i> experiments, revealed good temperature self-regulation properties and current and voltage limitation, and irrespective of the applied voltage and composite type, the equilibrium superficial temperature did not exceed 80 °C, while the equilibrium current traversing the sample dropped from 22 mA at 35 V to 5 mA at 150 V, proving the limitation capacities of these materials. The concentration effects revealed in this work could open new perspectives for the compositional control of both the self-limiting and interrupting properties for various low-temperature applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/5/1224LLDPE compositePTCconductivityself-regulating temperaturecarbon filler |
| spellingShingle | Eduard-Marius Lungulescu Cristina Stancu Radu Setnescu Petru V. Notingher Teodor-Adrian Badea Electrical and Electro-Thermal Characteristics of (Carbon Black-Graphite)/LLDPE Composites with PTC Effect Materials LLDPE composite PTC conductivity self-regulating temperature carbon filler |
| title | Electrical and Electro-Thermal Characteristics of (Carbon Black-Graphite)/LLDPE Composites with PTC Effect |
| title_full | Electrical and Electro-Thermal Characteristics of (Carbon Black-Graphite)/LLDPE Composites with PTC Effect |
| title_fullStr | Electrical and Electro-Thermal Characteristics of (Carbon Black-Graphite)/LLDPE Composites with PTC Effect |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electrical and Electro-Thermal Characteristics of (Carbon Black-Graphite)/LLDPE Composites with PTC Effect |
| title_short | Electrical and Electro-Thermal Characteristics of (Carbon Black-Graphite)/LLDPE Composites with PTC Effect |
| title_sort | electrical and electro thermal characteristics of carbon black graphite lldpe composites with ptc effect |
| topic | LLDPE composite PTC conductivity self-regulating temperature carbon filler |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/5/1224 |
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