Effect of polyaniline functionalized carbon nanotubes addition on the positive temperature coefficient behavior of carbon black/high-density polyethylene nanocomposites

The influence of addition of polyaniline functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PANI-MWNTs) on the positive temperature coefficient (PTC) characteristics of carbon black (CB) filled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) nanocomposite materials have been studied. Polymer nanocomposites were prepared by the combined solution and melt-mixing process. The experimental results showed that the PTC intensity and maximum resistivity of the hybrid nanocomposites were obviously influenced by the polyaniline functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). A noticeable PTC of resistivity was observed for PANI-MWNTs/CB/HDPE hybrid nanocomposites near the melting point of HDPE. This is due to the significant volume expansion near the melting point of the HDPE in presence of hybrid fillers and a sudden increase of the resistivity due to the disconnection of the conductive paths. The PTC effect of CB/HDPE composites can be effectively modified by the addition of PANI-MWNTs.