Departmental Papers (MSE)

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of this Version

1-12-2009

Comments

Simulations and electrical conductivity of percolated networks of finite rods with various degrees of axial alignment Sadie I. White, Brian A. DiDonna, Minfang Mu, T. C. Lubensky, and Karen I. Winey, Phys. Rev. B 79, 024301 (2009), DOI:10.1103/PhysRevB.79.024301

Copyright American Physical Society.
Reprinted from Physical Review B, Volume 79, Issue 2, Article 024301, January 2009.
Publisher URL: http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.79.024301

Abstract

We present a three-dimensional simulation and calculation of electrical conductivity above the filler percolation threshold for networks containing finite, conductive cylinders as a function of axial orientation (S) and aspect ratio (L/D). At a fixed volume fraction and L/D, the simulations exhibit a critical degree of orientation, S-c, above which the electrical conductivity decreases dramatically. With increasing filler concentration and aspect ratio, this critical orientation shifts to higher degrees of alignment. Additionally, at a fixed volume fraction and L/D, the simulated electrical conductivity displays a maximum at slight uniaxial orientation, which is less pronounced at higher volume fractions and aspect ratios. Our approach can be used as a predictive tool to design the optimal filler concentration and degree of orientation required to maximize electrical conductivity in polymer nanocomposites with conductive cylindrical fillers of finite dimension.

Keywords

CONTINUUM PERCOLATION, STICKS

Date Posted: 26 May 2009

This document has been peer reviewed.