The effect of the electrical field on the electrical and mechanical properties of polyurethane/carbon nanotubes composites

Abstract

The composites based on the cross-linked polyurethane and carbon nanotubes (CPU/CNT), formed with and without electric field (EF) were obtained. The electrical and mechanical characteristics of the composites were measured. The formation of CPU/CNT systems in the EF both with vertical and horizontal orientation of nanotubes results in the significant decreasing in the values of percolation threshold (to 0.1%wt. of CNTs). The tensile strength of the CPU/CNT-EF composites increased almost to 18 MPa at the 0.1%wt. of CNTs at the vertical orientation of the nanotubes.