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Cabot Corporation supplies a broad range of carbon black based electrically conductive composites (CABELEC®) which are widely used in the automotive, electronics and electrical packaging and equipment industry. Nowadays, the demand in high performance conductive compounds is increasing but carbon black however provides only moderate reinforcements in mechanical properties. Within this framework, the purpose of this project was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of carbon fiber (PAN and PITCH) and stainless steel fibers toward performances of polyamide 6 based composite. In this work, composites were compounded by twin screw extrusion. Since fibers aspect ratio is of crucial importance to manufacture good performance composite, the first part of this project was dedicated to the evaluation and optimization of compounding settings in order to maximize fibers aspect ratio. Increasing screw speed and filler loading enhanced fibers degradation whereas higher output rate and temperature displayed significant impact on preserving fibers. In the second part, the effects of selected fillers toward electrical (i.e. volume resistivity) and mechanical (strength, stiffness and toughness) properties were thoroughly investigated. Carbon fiber PAN, owing its lower degradation during compounding and better adhesion to the polymeric matrix used, appears to be the more efficient in providing conductivity (i.e. volume resistivity of 10 Ohm.cm and percolation at 3.4% vol.) and reinforcements. In the last part, hybrids (i.e. containing at least two different fillers) were investigated. The first hybrid, containing stainless steel and carbon PAN fibers, displayed synergistic effects toward electrical properties and good mechanical performance although mechanical enhancement was lower than expected assumedly due to higher shear during compounding by fiber-fiber interactions. Lastly, hybrid containing mostly carbon black and small amount of carbon PAN fibers (i.e. 2% wt.) was investigated. Carbon fibers in such hybrids provided enhanced electrical properties and effective reinforcement in term of strength (+15%) and stiffness (+20%).

Physique, chimie, mathématiques & sciences de la terre > Chimie