Papers by Keyword: Percolation Threshold

Abstract: Electrically conductive textiles for wearable smart devices are in increasing demand [1]. The advantages of flexible fabric structures are combined with electronic functions, such as sensing or actuating, energy harvesting or illuminating, for the design of a multitude of smart textiles. Those functions are often created by applying conductive layers or patterns onto the textile surface with two-phase systems based on conductive filler particles in polymeric binders. However, those systems alter the textile-typical properties regarding haptic, drape, flexibility or weight, depending on the type of conductive particle used, i.e., metal-or carbon-based ones. Generally, electrical conductivity increases with the increase of conductive filler concentration. The relation between the various factors determining the electrical behavior as well as the percolation threshold for some dispersions and in particular the size and shape of the filler particles were previously assessed for planar coatings [2]. In this research work electrically, conductive patterns were printed with dispenser printing technology using such two-phase dispersions based on polyurethane and polyacrylate binders and various metal microparticle flakes. With this application method linear resistance of approx. 25 to 100 Ohm per 100 cm depending on the textile structure could be realized, which was not even significantly reduced by household washing at 40°C or abrasion by Martindale.

Abstract: In this paper, we developed a three-dimensional percolation model to investigate the effects of the concentration and morphology of CNTs (carbon nanotubes) on the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites. In the model, we judged the connections between CNTs by range search algorithm based on KD-Tree structure. At the same time, DIJKSTRA-Melissa algorithm was applied to efficiently find all the conductive paths instead of finding conductive network in traditional methods. From the simulation results, CNTs with higher aspect ratio were easier to form the conductive network. In a certain range of CNT’s concentration, the relationship between the conductivity of the conductive network and the carbon nanotubes was basically consistent with the classical percolation theory. To verify our simulation model, the morphological, electrical properties of Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) nanocomposites with different aspect ratio (AR) of MWNTs were systematically studied. In conclusion, these unique advantageous properties could be exploited to suggest potential applications of artificial electronic skin.

Abstract: In this paper some recent progress in the area of Monte Carlo simulation of diffusion via the interstitialcy mechanism in a randomly ordered binary alloy is reviewed. Topics discussed include the calculation of tracer correlation factors fA and fB as a function of composition and jump frequency ratio wA/wB and interstitialcy correlation factors fI; which play a crucial role in the interpretation of ion-conductivity data. The percolation behavior of fI when wA ≪ wB is analysed in detail and limits of the tracer diffusivity ratios bD A/bD B for alloy compositions below the percolation threshold are presented. Allowance for non-collinear jumps (partly) replacing concurrent collinear site exchanges leads to a reduction of diffusion correlation effects. This goes along with a shift of the diffusion percolation threshold to lower concentrations of the (more) mobile component B. Even stronger changes of mass and charge transport compared to an exclusively collinear interstitialcy scheme are observed for additional contributions of direct interstitial jumps. It is remarkable that for both extensions of interstitialcy-mediated diffusion the Haven ratio appears to be greater than unity in certain composition ranges poor in B.

Abstract: This paper describes the characterization of conductive PDMS (CPDMS) composites. Composite have been achieved by filling the PDMS with CarbonBlack (CB). Two different methods were used to prepare the CPDMS composites: (A) direct mixing of CB with PDMS (CB-PDMS); (B) dissolving of CB in methanol before mixing with PDMS (CB-Methanol-PDMS). At a certain critical CB concentration, called percolation threshold, the membranes get conductive. Membranes of CPDMS (thickness ≈ 100µm) have been fabricated. CPDMS membranes of method (B) show a smoother surface profile as membranes of method (A). By means of a two–point resistivity measurement, the electrical resistance of CPDMS membranes was measured. With an increase of the CB concentration, the resistance decreases. Membranes of method (B) show a low percolation threshold and a low surface resistivity. Effects of pressure and temperature on the membrane resistance were investigated, too. Around the percolation threshold, the resistance shows the highest sensitivity on pressure and temperature variations. The Young’s modulus of CPDMS membranes exponentially increase with an increase of the CB concentration.

Abstract: The effect of graphene and natural rubber content on the mechanical and electrical performance of two- matrix system epoxy/ natural rubber with graphene nano-platelets (GNP) as a conductive nano-filler were investigated. Natural rubber (SMRL) was used as a toughening agent to improve the toughness properties of thermosetting epoxy resins. Graphene nano-platelets which acted as a conductive nano-filler were incorporated into two- matrix system to produced the outstanding electrical performance. There is an insulator to condutor transition at a significantly lower graphene loading to formed percolated pathway for the electron transfer. The percolation threshold were achieved at 0.8 vol% of graphene nano-filler. The result showed an improvement of the fracture toughness of the epoxy resins with the presence of graphene and natural rubber. The XRD result concluded that the conductive materials have intercalated structure.

Abstract: Asphalt concrete is an insulating material. Conductive materials are added to asphalt concrete in order that improving the conductivity. Conductive asphalt concrete (CAC) has become a promising method to snow melting and self-monitoring. In this study, the piezoresistance of CAC which can be improved the conductivity through graphite are analyzed. Based on the interparticle separation and bitumen film-thickness of graphite particle, a model has been developed to predict the piezoresistance under the applied stress. The influences of applied stress, graphite diameter, graphite volume fraction, compressive modulus on the piezoresistance are interpreted through laboratory experiments. Both the numerical and experimental results show that the theoretical data obtained from the model are found to agree with the experimental ones fairly well. In addition, it was found that all these parameters influence the piezoresistance by altering the change process of interparticle separation of graphite.

Abstract: Silver nanowires–epoxy composites were prepared via cryomilling dispersion and hot-press forming process. The microstructure of the silver nanowires was studied by SEM. Dependence of dielectric properties of the composites on volume fraction of silver nanowires and frequency was investigated RF impedance material analyzer. The percolation threshold of the composites was 0.16, the value of the dielectric constant of the composite was as high as 100.

Abstract: Nanocomposite Fe_x(Al₂O₃)_100-x films with concentration gradient along the long axis of the samples (40 mm) have been obtained by sputter deposition technique and investigated. Based on the electric and magnetoresistive investigations the gradient Fe_x(Al₂O₃)_100-x samples in which concentration of one edge of the sample is smaller than concentration of a percolation threshold while concentration of opposite edge of this sample is upper the threshold have been determined. Influence of the heat flow direction on the thermoelectric power of the gradient samples has been investigated. Hysteresis of the thermoelectric power is observed when temperature gradient direction is changed.

Abstract: Within the frame of average spin the dependence of Neel temperature of ultrathin antiferromagnetic film for FCC crystalline lattice on its thickness and the concentration of magnetic atoms has been defined. The λ values calculated by us are close to experimental values obtained for the films СoO/SiO2. The increasing of thickness leads to decreasing of the critical concentration down to the value equal to percolation threshold.

Abstract: Infrared detection based on polymeric materials is continuously developed in order to be cheap and easy to processing and also having high pyroelectric coefficient to convert heat to electrical signal. PANI/DBSA was blended with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with different weight ratios to improve pyroelectric coefficient and electrical conductivity of PVDF. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity is measured in the range of 20-100 °C It was found that the pyroelectric coefficient increased from 1.5×10^-8 C/m² °C for pristine PVDF to 2.61×10^-5 C/m² °C at 25 wt.% PANI at 30 °C. The infrared detector circuit connected to the gate of a voltage follower JFET with high input impedance was designed to convert the high output impedance of the sensor into the output resistance. The output from the sensor and JFET is amplified in two stages of operational amplifier with high voltage gain with low noise.