REGULAR ELECTROCONDUCTIVE NETWORKS MADE FROM METAL-COATED PLASTIC POWDERS - EFFECT OF THE CONCENTRATION OF METAL ON THE CONDUCTIVITY

Compaction of core particles coated by smaller particles of a key component results in a model structure consisting of a three-dimensional regular network of the key constituent embedded in the core (matrix) material. This method may find promising applications in the preparation of new materials. As an example of its possibilities, the formation of an electroconductive network by hot-pressing silver-coated poly(methylmethacrylate) particles is reported in this paper. Besides its effect on the electrical properties of the product, the amount of silver powder used to coat the plastic particles has a remarkable effect on the structure of the coating layer. The use of this technique makes it possible to obtain conductive plastics at metal concentrations considerably lower than those reported previously, without the need to use metallic fibers of high aspect ratio. © 1990.