Percolation Threshold of Polymer Nanocomposites Containing Graphite Nanoplatelets and Carbon Nanotubes

An improved analytical model is developed based on an interparticle distance concept, to predict the percolation threshold of conducting polymer composites containing graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). GNPs are modeled as well-dispersed, disc-shaped cylinders, while CNTs were modeled as either well-dispersed sticks or sphere-shaped CNT agglomerates with a higher CNT concentration than the average CNT content of composites. Two dispersion parameters are introduced in the model to correctly reflect the different dispersion states of CNTs in the matrix. The experimental data collected from literature and previous experiments were compared with the present model, verifying the applicability of the model.