Berlin 2008 – scientific programme

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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 2: Statistical physics I (general)

DY 2.5: Talk

Monday, February 25, 2008, 11:30–11:45, MA 001

The effect of shear flow on conductivity of polymer-carbon nanotube composites: an anisotropic percolation theory — •Fedor Semeriyanov, Marina Grenzer, and Gert Heinrich — Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung, Hohe Str. 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany

In explaining the conductivity properties of carbon-nanotube (CNT) polymer composites the percolation approach looks the most suitable. The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of shear flow on formation of the percolating cluster of CNTs that spans in the direction of the preferred orientation. We consider a system of rods dispersed in a homogenous media in which the orientational order is induced by the shear flow. The problem is theoretically approached by a random contact model making use of a shear-dependent excluded volume per rod. The anisotropic percolation probability is calculated on Husimi cactus, an infinitely ramified fractal lattice. A detailed comparison of the results for conductivity to those for viscosity as a function of shear rate near percolation threshold is done, providing an insight into the role of orientational order.