FABRICATION OF CONDUCTIVE POLYMER COMPOSITES FROM TURKISH HEMP-DERIVED CARBON FIBERS AND THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS

Abstract

In this study, carbon fibers filled flexible conductive polymer composites were fabricated. Turkish hemp was used to produce conductive carbon fibers. In order to do this, hemp fibers were carbonized under different conditions. After this step, flexible conductive composites were fabricated by using poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene] matrix and hemp-based carbon fibers. Composite films were produced by combination of solvent casting and hot pressing. Various levels of carbon fibers were used in order to determine the percolation behavior of the composites. Morphological and electrical properties of the composite films were analyzed. Electrical resistivity of the samples decreased by increasing the filler ratio.