Electrical and mechanical properties of epoxy resin/short carbon fiber/sericite composites

Epoxy resin (EP)/short carbon fiber (SCF) composites with low volume resistivity rho(v) and percolation threshold of about 10 wt% have been prepared by melt-mixing EP with SCF of different weight percentages. Various amounts of sericite modified with 2 wt% stearic acid added to EP/SCF (67/25) and EP/SCF/sericite composites were obtained. The electrical and mechanical properties of the composites are studied. The testing results show that the rho(v) of the composites is 2.25 x 10(8) Omega cm, while its tensile strength, tensile elastic modulus and impact toughness are enhanced by 78.5%, 251% and 44% respectively, compared to those of EP, when the weight ratio of EP:SCF:sericite is 67:25:10.