Quantifying microstructure, electrical and mechanical properties of carbon fiber and expanded graphite filled cyclic olefin copolymer composites

In this study, micro-structural features and physical properties of cyclic olefin copolymer composites filled with different amounts of carbon fiber (CF) and expanded graphite (EG) were studied. The electrical percolation for the CF and EG were found to be 30 phr (volume fraction of 0.142) and 20 phr (volume fraction of 0.083), respectively. It was also found that the electrical conductivity of double-filler composites was higher than those of single-filler counterparts at a particular filler amount which implied that more conduction pathways were formed via the connection points of CF rods and EG sheets into the structure. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.