Electrical conductivity of polyethylene aluminum nanocomposites with different particle surface chemistry characteristics

Abstract

We investigated the influence of the surface modification of Al nanoparticles on the electrical conduction of polyethylene composites. Octyl-trimethoxysilane was used as a coupling agent for the treatment of Al nanoparticle. It was found that the incorporation of octyl groups onto the surface of Al nanoparticle altered the time dependence behaviors of polarization and depolarization current and increased the percolation threshold and the resistivity of the polyethylene composites. It is concluded that, based on our morphology observation of the nanocomposites, the improved electrical properties could be directly ascribed to the good dispersion and special electrical feature of the surface-treated nanoparticles in the polymer matrix.