Influence of Technological Conditions in the Formation of Electrically Conductive Thermoplastic Polymer-Graphite Composites

The article discusses the synthesis and properties of electrically conductive polymer composite materials based on low-ash graphite grade GSM-1, modified with acids using bisulfate technology. Investigations of the influence of such technological methods as pressing and rolling on rollers with a variable gap on the conductivity of composite materials based on thermally expanded graphite and thermally expanded polymer-graphite compositions containing acid-modified graphite have been carried out. It is shown that, by applying to polymer composites the technological methods of thermal expansion, pressing, and rolling on rollers, it is possible, firstly, to combine fillers of different nature, shapes, and sizes and, secondly, to obtain composites with the required conductivity of an electrically conductive polymer composite. The paper shows the advantage of using thermally expanded graphite in comparison with other forms of graphite to obtain highly conductive polymer compositions.