Remendable conductive polyethylene composite with simultaneous restoration of electrical and mechanical behavior

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science Vol. 62; no. 4; pp. 991 - 998
• Main Authors: Waldman, Laura J., Keller, Michael W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2022; Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Aluminum; Aluminum flakes; Composition; Conducting polymers; conductive polymers; Electric properties; Electrical properties; Fillers; Healing; Induction heating; Mechanical properties; Methods; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; self‐healing polymers; United States
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.25900

Conductive polymer composites can be customized through the addition of conductive fillers to the matrix. Fillers added to a conductive polymer composite modify the mechanical properties of the material as well as the electrical properties. Previous work with conductive polymer composites determined that conductive polymers with carbon‐based materials exhibit more brittle behavior when compared with unmodified polymers, reducing strains to failure of the material. A conductive polymer with self‐healing functionality could be healed to repair damage. This work demonstrates a conductive polyethylene composite, which can simultaneously restore electrical and mechanical performance when heated with induction. Because carbon‐based conductive composites cannot be sufficiently heated for healing, aluminum flake added to the composite served as the susceptor for induction heating. Conductive polyethylene specimens with 20% aluminum flake by volume demonstrated similar mechanical behavior both during the initial test and after healing. Conductive polymer composites can be customized through the addition of conductive fillers to the matrix. This work demonstrates a conductive polyethylene composite which can simultaneously restore electrical and mechanical performance when heated with induction. Conductive polyethylene specimens with 20% aluminum flake by volume demonstrated similar mechanical behavior both during the initial test and after healing.