Thermal and electronic behaviour of polycarbonate-copper nanocomposite system

• Published in: Journal of physics. D, Applied physics Vol. 46; no. 45; pp. 455501 - 1-8
• Main Authors: Sain, P K, Goyal, R K, Bhargava, A K, Prasad, Y V S S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 13.11.2013; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: COMPOSITES; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Dielectric properties of solids and liquids; Dielectrics, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics and their properties; Exact sciences and technology; Permittivity (dielectric function); Physics; Differential scanning calorimetry; Hot pressing; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray microscopy; Nanocomposites; Dielectric properties; Copper; Permittivity
• ISSN: 0022-3727; 1361-6463
• DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/46/45/455501

Heterogeneous nanocomposites based on polycarbonate (PC) as matrix and nano-sized copper (Cu) as filler were prepared using the solution mixing method followed by hot pressing. Transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffractometry, and differential scanning calorimetry were employed for characterization studies. Dielectric spectroscopy was carried out for pure PC and its nanocomposites within the range of 1 kHz to 15 MHz. Dielectric constant of the nanocomposites gradually increased with increasing volume percentage of the Cu particles in the matrix. Percolation threshold was observed between 15 and 20 vol% Cu content; thereby, conductivity and dielectric constant abruptly increased. Below percolation threshold, the nanocomposites did not show dispersion in the dielectric properties up to 1 MHz.