Crosslinked conducting polymer composite materials and method of making same

• Main Authors: Foulger, Stephen H, Quinn, Jeffrey M, Trial, Thierry T
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.05.2003

The present invention relates to conducting polymer composite materials that are crosslinked and the method of making such composite materials. Specifically, the present invention concerns co-continuous polymer blends through the percolation-in-percolation approach or multiple percolation comprising conducting material wherein the polymers are crosslinked through various means. A conducting polymer composite that is crosslinked comprising a semicrystalline polymer minor phase with conducting filler material dispersed therein in an amount sufficient to generate a continuous conductive network in the minor phase, and which is mixed with major phase polymers, the materials being selected such that the minor phase and major phases will not engage in electrostatic interactions that promote miscibility. The minor phase being dispersed in the major phase in an amount sufficient to generate a continuous conductive network in the composite material. The composite material is crosslinked by physical or chemical means. The crosslinked conducting polymer composite having a reduced amount of conducting filler while supporting a continuous conductive network in the crosslinked polymer composite.