Structural, electrical and percolation threshold of al/ polymethylmethacrylate nanocomposites

Aluminum-embedded polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) composites were produced by using different aluminum concentrations in the polymer matrix. The aluminum particles were spherical with a particle size of 80 nm. The hot compression molding method in inert atmosphere for all the composites was used in their preparation. The PMMA matrix was analyzed using solution viscosimetry analysis and it did not evidence degradation of the PMMA matrix. The microstructure of the composites was examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrical conductivity was measured as a function of the aluminum content and the composite fabricated with 10 vol.% aluminum presented a conductivity three order of magnitude higher than that of pure PMMA. The enhancement in conductivity can be explained by means of segregated percolation path theory and the experimental results are in agreement with the theoretical law. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:279283, 2010.