Highly conducting carbon nanotube composite for electric heating unit applications

• Published in: Electronics letters Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 133 - 135
• Main Authors: Park, S.H., Chu, K.‐M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stevenage The Institution of Engineering and Technology 17.01.2013; Institution of Engineering and Technology
• Subjects: Applied sciences; approximate percolation threshold; carbon nanotubes; CNT‐PDMS composite; CNT‐polymer composite system; Composites; electric heating; electric heating unit applications; Exact sciences and technology; filled polymers; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; high aspect ratio; high effective heating unit applications; high shear processing techniques; highly conducting carbon nanotube composite; highly entangled multiwalled carbon nanotubes; nanocomposites; PDMS matrix; percolation; phase separation; polydimethylsiloxane composite; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; temperature; temperature 293 K to 298 K; time; time 90 s; voltage; voltage 5 V; Dimethylsiloxane polymer; Conductivity; Carbon nanotubes; Aspect ratio; Weight; Heat source; Phase separation; Voltage; Percolation; Nanocomposite; Electrical conductor; Room temperature; Joule effect
• ISSN: 1350-911X; 0013-5194; 1350-911X
• DOI: 10.1049/el.2012.3811

The fabrication of highly conducting carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite is presented with the aim of electric heating unit applications. High shear processing techniques were used to separate highly entangled multi‐walled carbon nanotubes with high aspect ratio (∼5000). No notable agglomerates or phase separation between the CNTs and PDMS matrix are observed, and the CNTs are well dispersed. It is observed that the approximate percolation threshold is found to be below 0.1 vol.%, which is a lower value than previously reported. The resulting conductivity of the CNT/PDMS composite is about 2.23 S/cm at 5.7 vol.% CNT loading. The fabricated CNT/PDMS composites can be quickly heated from room temperature to 130 °C within 90 s by applying a DC voltage of 5 V. The proposed CNT‐polymer composite system with obtained results could be used as a basis for light‐weight and high effective heating unit applications.