Ultralight conductive carbon-nanotube-polymer composite

The fabrication of a conductive carbon nanotube/polyurethane (CNT/PU) foam with a low density of 0.05g cm-3 and a conductivity of 43x10 -5Sm-1 was analyzed. This lightest conductive polymer composite has a weight-reduction rate of 96.2%. A novel density-dependent conductor-insulator transition was developed that determines the limit of the reduction in weight for a conductive composite. This density-dependent conductor-insulator transition is related to the microstructure of the low-density conductive polymer composite. The reduction in weight of the composites brought remarkable advantages for electronic devices such as aircraft, spacecraft, and automobiles. The weight reduction saved both materials and energy. Results show that the carbon-nanofiber and nanotube-filled polystyrene conductive foams have been developed for a lightweight EMI-sheilding composite.