High-density polyethylene/carbon black conductive composites. I. Effect of CB surface modification on its resistivity-temperature behavior

The effect of the interaction between a polymeric matrix and conductive particles of carbon black (CB), especially the interaction enhanced by oxidizing CB (o-CB), on the resistivity-temperature behavior of its composites was studied. The results reveal that the interaction between ethylene-vinyl-acetate and CB is stronger than that between high-density polyethylene and CB. The room temperature resistivity of the o-CB filled system subsequent to thermal cycles increases to a lower extent in comparison with those filled with virgin CB. Moreover, the resistivity decrease of composites filled with o-CB needs a longer time than that of the virgin CB filled system during isothermal annealing, meaning that the resistivity-temperature behavior of the former is much more stable than that of the latter. (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Inc.