Abstract: Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) was chosen to be loaded with various contents of carbon nanoparticles CNP varying from 0 to 3 phr. The mechanical properties, electrical conductivity as well as thermal stability of the prepared nanocomposites were investigated. The transmission electron microscope TEM micrographs of PVC containing (0.75, 2 phr) of CNP indicated that, in both cases a homogeneous distribution of the CNP in the PVC matrix can be produced by the used solvent casting technique. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, and hardness shore A were investigated at room temperature. This investigation led to the conclusions. The tensile strength and hardness shore A were improved with a decrease in flexibility by increasing CNP content and reached their optimum values at about 2 phr loading. The percolation threshold concentration, which is the concentration after which the electrical conductivity increases many orders of magnitude with very little increase in the filler content for PVC/CNP composites, depends upon the measuring temperature, whether it is below or above the glass transition of the polymer matrix. The addition of CNP by concentration up to 2 phr below 90°C and 0.5 phr above 90°C increased the electrical conductivity of the PVC matrix. The thermal stability of PVC/CNP (2phr) was enhanced compared to that of unfilled PVC.
 

Keywords: PVC, CNP, nanocomposites, electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, thermal stability.