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Polymer Chemistry 2018
Polymer Sciences
ISSN: 2471-9935
Page 27
March 26-28, 2018
Vienna, Austria
3
rd
Edition of International Conference and Exhibition on
Polymer Chemistry
E
thylene-octene copolymer (EOC) is a copolymer which
exhibits low density, good elasticity and improved
processability and widely being used in the automotive,
electrical cable insulation and footwear applications.
Conducting polymer composites of EOC (with octene content
of 45 wt.%) were prepared using three different types of
fillers; expandable graphite (EG), multiwall carbon nanotube
(MWCNT) and carbon fiber (CF). EOC/EG composites were
prepared by melt blending of EOC and EG, while EOC/MWCNT
and EOC/CF composites were prepared by ultrasonication
of EOC solutions/filler systems followed by precipitation.
Electrical (both AC and DC) and thermal conductivities of
composites were measured. Flammability resistance tests
of the EOC/EG composites only were carried out and showed
that expandable graphite is an excellent flame-retardant filler.
Percolation behaviour of EOC/EG composites were observed
at around 16 vol.% of filler loading while for EOC/CF it was at,
2.21 vol.% and for EOC/MWCNT, it was at 5.32 vol.% which is a
clear indication of effect of filler, or aspect ratio of fillers in the
composites. Stress at break and elongation at break of EOC/
MWCNT and EOC/CF composites found increasing initially and
followed a downward trend which is mainly due to reduction
in chain flexibility which predominates over the reinforcing
effect of fillers. From shore-A hardness values, it is clear
that even the highest filler level did not reduce the softness
of composites. Good electrical/thermal conductivities and
improved mechanical properties along with comparable
shore-A hardness values of EOC composites with excellent
residual strain (
ε
r) of pure EOC which is a direct measure of
elasticity of a material, shows the potential of EOC to find its
application as strain sensors.
Biography
Rajesh Theravalappil obtained his PhD Degree in Chemistry and Materials
Technology from Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic in 2012. He
joined the Center for Refining and Petrochemicals of the Research Institute,
King Fahd University Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia post completion
of his PhD and is currently a Research Scientist. He has 15 years of research
and industrial experience in the field of polymer science. His research inter-
est includes: polymer synthesis and characterization, petrochemicals, poly-
mer blends and composites, material development.
rajesh@kfupm.edu.saCarbon and graphite filler composites of ethylene-
octene copolymer: potential candidates for pressure/
strain sensors
Rajesh Theravalappil
1
and Petr Svoboda
2
1
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia
2
Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Czech Republic
Rajesh Theravalappil, Polym Sci, Volume 4
DOI: 10.4172/2471-9935-C1-008