THE ELECTRICAL-CONDUCTIVITY OF POLYPROPYLENE AND NICKEL-COATED CARBON-FIBER COMPOSITE

The effect of filler content, temperature, and frequency of the applied electric field on DC and AC electrical conductivities of composites of nickel-coated carbon fibers and polypropylene are considered. The impedance behavior and the dielectric properties of these composites were studied in the low frequency range 10 Hz-30 kHz. It was found that the volume electrical resistivity shows filler content and temperature dependence. The calculated activation energy of the thermal rate-process decreases with the filler concentration, while the shielding effectiveness increases. The overall observed permittivity of the composites increases with the filler concentration. and the dielectric behavior is discussed in terms of the space charge, electronic and interfacial polarization within the covered frequency range. It was observed that the AC conductivity is nearly independent of the frequency below 100 Hz and increases with frequency above this range. Finally, it was concluded that addition of nickel-coated carbon fibers could alter the electrical conduction mechanism and the polarization process of the polymeric matrix.