Nonlinear conductive properties and scaling behavior of conductive particle filled high-density polyethylene composites

The blends prepared by incorporation of carbon black (CB) or graphite powder (GP) into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix have been novel and extensively applied polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PTC) composites. A phenomenological model was proposed on the basis of the GEM equation and the dilution effect of filler volume fraction due to the thermal volume expansion of the polymer matrix. Accordingly, the contribution of the thermal expansion of the matrix to the jump-like PTC transition of the composites was quantitatively estimated and a mechanical explanation was given. It was proved that the contribution of the volume expansion to PTC effect decreased for HDPE/CB composites crosslinked through electron-beam irradiation. Furthermore, the influences of the filler content, temperature and crosslinking on the self-heating behavior as well as the nonlinear conduction characteristics at electrical-thermal equilibrium state were examined. Based on the electric-field and initial resistivity dependence of the self-heating temperature and resistance dependence of the critical field, the mechanisms of the self-heating of the polymeric PTC materials were evaluated. The intrinsic relations between macroscopic electrical properties and microscopic percolation network at electrical-thermal equilibrium state were discussed according to the scaling relationship between the self-heating critical parameter and the conductivity of materials.