Effect of magnetic field on conductivity properties of carbon filler/LDPE composites

Development of new inorganic filler/polymer composites using external field is an important research field in material science. In this study, the effect of the eternal magnetic field applied during thermoforming processing of polyethylene (PE), carbon black (CB)/low-density polyethylene (LDPE), graphite/LDPE and carbon nanotubes(CNTs)/LDPE composites on their electrical conductivity properties is explored. Experimental results indicate that the magnetic field treatment can increase the crystallization of PE and the volume electrical resistivity of PE and CB/LDPE composites. Graphite/LDPE and CNTs/LDPE composites have good nonlinear electrical conductivity characteristic. Induced magnetic moment in graphite and CNTs caused by magnetic field can make graphite and CNTs orientate perpendicular and parallel to the direction of magnetic field in LDPE respectively, which causes a decrease in the conductivity of graphite/LDPE composites and an increase in the conductivity of CNTs/LDPE composites in the direction parallel to the magnetic field.