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Application of a Coupling Agent to Improve the Dielectric Properties of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites
Published on: September 19, 2020
Elaboration and Characterization of Conductive Polymer Nanocomposites with Potential Use as Electrically Driven
Leire Sangroniz1, Ainara Sangroniz1, Mercedes Fernández1
1POLYMAT and Polymer Science and Technology Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 20018 San Sebastian, Spain.
Abstract:
In this work, a general, facile, and relatively low-cost method to produce electrically driven non-porous membranes by revalorization of recycled polyolefins is proposed. The polymer matrices are poly(propylene) (PP) and poly(ethylene) (PE) and their corresponding recycled samples, which are respectively mixed with carbon nanotubes (CNT). The performances of the elaborated nanocomposites are studied by morphological, rheological, and electrical conductivity tests. The Joule heating effect is evaluated by applying an electric field and recording the corresponding temperature rise. An increase of 90 °C is obtained in certain cases, which represents the highest temperature enhancement reached so far by the Joule effect in thermoplastics, to our knowledge. The work shows a route to develop stimulus (voltage)-response (temperature) materials with low cost and with potential applications in many fields. As an example, the increase of the permeability with temperature of membranes made of the indicated nanocomposites, is analyzed.
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