Excluded Volume Polymeric Composite Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive polymeric composites often require high filler loadings or specific filler geometries to achieve percolation, which can lead to mechanical issues and inefficient conductivity, especially when trying to create transparent conductive films for applications like touch-screens.
Innovation Solution
A composite material is created with an excluded volume phase of non-conductive particles and a conductive phase, where the conductive filler is relegated to the interstitial volume, allowing for lower loadings and improved conductivity by mixing non-conductive particles with an insulating polymeric matrix and a conductive filler, often using techniques like combining insulating particulates with a resin-conductive filler-hardener mixture or melted polymer-conductive filler mixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high filler loadings are used to achieve percolation, then electrical conductivity is improved, but mechanical properties deteriorate and processing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates regions of high conductive filler concentration (interstitial volumes between non-conductive particles) surrounded by non-conductive particle regions. This local quality variation allows percolation pathways to form with lower overall filler loading, maintaining mechanical properties while achieving electrical conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining non-conductive particles (forming excluded volumes) with conductive filler particles. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both electrical conductivity (through the conductive network in interstitial spaces) and mechanical integrity (through the non-conductive particle framework).
2Reliability
If high filler loadings are used to achieve percolation, then electrical conductivity is improved, but processing and manufacturing become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By creating local regions of high conductive filler concentration in the interstitial spaces between non-conductive particles, the patent achieves percolation at lower overall filler loadings. This reduces viscosity and improves processability while maintaining electrical conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-conductive particles act as intermediaries that organize the conductive filler into effective percolation networks. This intermediary structure allows for lower overall filler content, reducing processing difficulties while achieving the desired electrical conductivity.
3Reliability
If conductive filler is distributed uniformly, then percolation threshold is harder to reach, but transparency is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates non-uniform distribution of conductive filler, concentrating it in the interstitial volumes between non-conductive particles. This local concentration strategy achieves percolation with lower overall filler loading compared to uniform distribution, maintaining transparency while improving conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
By using the excluded volume effect, the conductive filler 'skips' the non-conductive particle regions and concentrates in the interstitial spaces. This accelerates the formation of percolation networks at lower overall concentrations, achieving conductivity efficiency without sacrificing transparency.
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
This approach enhances electrical conductivity at lower conductive filler loadings, reduces mechanical issues like delamination, and allows for the creation of transparent conductive films with improved percolation paths, even at low concentrations of conductive material.
Implementation Method 1
conductive particles embedded in a non-conductive polymeric matrix form a conductive network that is relegated to the interstitial volume
Implementation Method 2
the embedded conductor phase has sufficient concentration to exceed a percolation threshold within the conductor phase
Data Source
AI summary
A composite material with enhanced electrical conductivity. The composite material includes two distinct phases. The first distinct phase is an excluded volume phase that includes an electrical insulator. The second distinct phase, a conductor phase, is a composite including an electrically insulating matrix and an embedded conductor phase that has sufficient concentration to exceed a percolation threshold within the conductor phase.