Electroactive performance and cost evaluation of carbon nanotubes and carbon black as conductive fillers in self-healing shape memory polymers and other composites

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and black (CB) have been widely used as conductive fillers in electroactive polymer composites. MWCNT-based composites generally lower resistivity percolation thresholds, while CB-based ones are considerably cheaper. To balance these pros cons, ternary (TCs) (polymer-MWCNT-CB) can be formulated. Here, we prepared MWCNT-CB TCs capable of self-healing with shape memory properties, based on polyketones reversibly-crosslinked via Diels-Alder chemistry. Unexpectedly, the cheaper CB-rich formulations had resistivities, thus better responses. Nonetheless, not all this clear cost-effectiveness. We evaluated cost-performance multiple reported systems found different general trends (positive, negative, synergistic cost-efficiency relationships). Thus, cost-effectiveness (and their combination) greatly depends each composite system what it is intended for. This work includes first systematic report MWCNT CB fillers. • Electroactive memory. less than more cost-effective. Broad evaluation Not answer which carbonaceous filler Best option application.