Positive-temperature-coefficient/negative-temperature-coefficient effect of low-density polyethylene filled with a mixture of carbon black and carbon fiber

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) filled with carbon black (CB) and carbon fiber (CF) composites were prepared by a conventional melt-mixing method. The effects of a mixture of CB and CF on the positive-temperature-coefficient (PTC) effect and the negative-temperature-coefficient (NTC) effect, as well as the percolation threshold, were examined in detail. A synergy effect between CB and CF occurred, in that continuous conductive pathways formed within the CB/CF-filled composite. The percolation threshold was moved to a reduced filler content with the addition of CF to an LDPE/CB composite. A model was proposed to explain the difference in the PTC behavior of composites containing CB and CF and composites containing only CB or CF. In addition, the NTC effect was weakened with a mixture of CB and CF, and a relatively small radiation dose was required to eliminate the NTC phenomenon in LDPE/CB/CF composites. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.