Electrical resistance of electroconductive plastic composite with carbon fiber filler

AbstractTo obtain a new electroconductive composite, the vapor‐grown carbon fiber (VGCF) has been applied to the thermoplastic resin composite as a conductive filler. The stability of electrical conductivity of the composite is investigated.The resistivity of VGCF composite is 1.7 × 10−1 Ω·cm at room temperature which is one order smaller than that of commercial grade composites with carbon filler. The stability of electrical conductivity, under temperature change (−35 to +60°C) and for exposure tests (at room temperature and at 60°C), the VGCF composites have high degree of stability. The stability of electrical conductivity of the present composites are superior to those of conventional carbon fibers such as PAN‐based, under tensile stresses and bending stresses. It is suggested that the fine conductive networks in the present composites give rise to these desirable performances.