Impact value of high electric conductive ABS composites with copper powder dispersion prepared by solution-cast method

Abstract

Copper powder dispersed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites were prepared by the solution cast method. Although the addition of Cu greatly enhanced the electric conductivity at the critical volume fraction (19.0+/-1.0 vol%Cu) from the insulator to the electric conductor, the decrease in the Charpy impact value was gradual. Since the impact value of the ABS polymer prepared by the solution cast method was 1.75 times larger than that before treatment, it is clear that the solution casting improved the impact value. When the volume fraction of Cu powders of high electric conductive ABS composites was from 20 to 30 vol%Cu, the impact value was 7 kJm-2. The moderated impact value was not only 44% of that of pure ABS polymer before solution casting, but was also higher than that of dispersed nylon6 composites (2 kJm-2) utilizeed for practical exteriors. © 2010 The Japan Institute of Metals.