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a) b - École Polytechnique de Montréal

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Figure 2-21. Transmission electron micrograph of silver nanowires(Wong, 2003-2008)<br />

• Polymer Polarity<br />

Some studies(Miyasaka et al., 1982a) revealed that the polymer polarity may be related to the<br />

percolation threshold; that is the higher the polarity of a given polymer, the larger the percolation<br />

threshold is. As well, a correlation between the surface tension of the polymer and the<br />

percolation threshold was found(Johnson, Kendall, & Roberts, 1971): the larger the surface<br />

tension, the larger is the percolation threshold.<br />

• Polymer Viscosity<br />

Percolation threshold is limited by increasing the viscosity of the polymer(Sau, Chaki, &<br />

Khastgir, 1997), since high viscosity of the polymer results in high amount of breakdown and<br />

<strong>de</strong>gradation of the structure of carbon black owing to the high shearing action experienced<br />

during mixing. Consequently, the formation of a conductive network throughout the matrix is<br />

<strong>de</strong>layed and occurs at a higher concentration(Sau, Chaki, & Khastgir, 1998).<br />

• Polymer Crystallization<br />

High-<strong>de</strong>nsity polyethylene loa<strong>de</strong>d with conductive carbon black showed that the carbon black<br />

aggregates tend to concentrate in amorphous regions. A major part of the carbon black<br />

aggregates in a semi-crystalline system are located in amorphous regions. Lower percolation<br />

51

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