Conductive Thermoplastic Resin Composition Stabilizing Carbon Nanotubes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermoplastic resins with added conductive additives like carbon nanotubes face challenges in maintaining electrical conductivity and impact resistance due to orientation and mobility issues during injection, leading to deteriorated mechanical properties.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a hydrophobic polymer additive and an impact modifier into the thermoplastic resin composition with carbon nanotubes to prevent orientation and enhance bonding, thereby maintaining superior electrical conductivity and impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a considerably large amount of conductive additive (10% by weight or more) is used to secure desired electrical conductivity, then electrical conductivity is improved, but mechanical physical properties including impact resistance deteriorate considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the key parameter from conductive additive content to carbon nanotube aspect ratio. By using carbon nanotubes with an aspect ratio of 100 or more (length/diameter), the invention achieves high electrical conductivity at much lower loading levels (0.1-10 parts by weight based on 100 parts thermoplastic resin), thereby preserving impact resistance. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by finding an alternative metric (aspect ratio) that enables conductivity without sacrificing mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system combining thermoplastic resin with high-aspect-ratio carbon nanotubes. This composite structure allows the carbon nanotubes to form conductive networks at low concentrations while the thermoplastic matrix maintains its mechanical integrity. The composite nature enables simultaneous achievement of electrical conductivity and impact resistance that cannot be obtained with conventional conductive additives alone.
2Reliability
If carbon nanotubes are used as conductive additive to improve electrical conductivity with small amount, then electrical conductivity is improved, but carbon nanotubes show mobility and orientation during injection causing bonding severance and conductivity deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies beforehand cushioning by adding a compatibilizer component before the injection process. This compatibilizer pre-coats or interacts with the carbon nanotube surfaces, creating a protective interface that cushions against the shearing stresses during injection. By preparing this protective layer in advance, the invention prevents bonding severance before it can occur, maintaining both conductivity and composition stability throughout processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary substance (compatibilizer) that mediates between the carbon nanotubes and the thermoplastic resin matrix. This intermediary improves the interfacial adhesion and reduces direct stress concentration on carbon nanotube bonds during injection. The compatibilizer acts as a buffer that absorbs and distributes shear forces, preventing bonding severance while allowing the carbon nanotubes to maintain their conductive network structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The electro-conductive thermoplastic resin composition achieves improved electrical conductivity and mechanical properties, such as impact resistance, by stabilizing carbon nanotubes during injection and preventing property deterioration.
Implementation Method 1
the hydrophobic polymer additive prevents the carbon nanotubes from being oriented or moved in the resin
Implementation Method 2
carbon nanotubes are dispersed in a thermoplastic resin... with controllable superior electro-conductivity
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an electro-conductive thermoplastic resin composition with controllable superior electro- conductivity and excellent impact resistance. The electro-conductive thermoplastic resin composition comprises 80 to 99.7 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin, 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of a carbon nanotube, 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of an impact modifier, and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a hydrophobic polymer additive, based on a total of 100 parts by weight of the electro-conductive thermoplastic resin composition.