ORCID
- Longyuan Li: 0000-0002-5982-0965
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have garnered great attention in recent years due to their outstanding electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The incorporation of small amounts of CNTs in polymers can substantially improve the sensitivity of the polymer’s electrical conductivity. This paper presents a modified Maxwell model to evaluate the electrical conductivity of CNTs-filled polymer composites by introducing a transition zone to account for the tunneling effect. In this modified Maxwell model, the CNTs-filled polymer composite is modeled as a three-phase composite, consisting of a matrix (polymer), inclusions (CNTs), and a transition zone (tunneling zone). The effective electrical conductivity (EEC) of the composite is calculated based on the volume fractions and electrical conductivities of the matrix, inclusions, and transition zone. The model’s validity is confirmed through the use of available test data, which demonstrates its capability to accurately capture the nonlinear conductivity behavior observed in CNTs-polymer composites. This study offers valuable insights into the design of high-performance conductive polymer nanocomposites, and enhances the understanding of electrical conduction mechanisms in CNT-dispersed polymer composites.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2025-01-02
Publication Title
Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (English Edition)
Volume
46
Issue
1
ISSN
0253-4827
Acceptance Date
2024-12-06
Deposit Date
2025-07-15
Additional Links
Keywords
carbon nanotube (CNT), composite, electrical conductivity, Maxwell model, O242.2, O441.1, polymer, tunneling
First Page
25
Last Page
36
Recommended Citation
Zhu, J., Li, L., & Zhu, N. (2025) 'Modification of Maxwell model for conductivity prediction of carbon nanotubes-filled polymer composites with tunneling effect', Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (English Edition), 46(1), pp. 25-36. Available at: 10.1007/s10483-025-3210-9
