Modeling Electrical Conductivity in Carbon-Filled Polymer Composites – Collaboration Western/KIT

The main objective of the proposed research is to characterize and develop simulation models for carbon-filled polymer nanocomposites, using key morphological properties such as filler orientation and spatial dispersion obtained from molding simulation tools to predict the electrical conductivity of the resulting composite. This type of integrated modeling, where processing simulations inform conductivity predictions, is not yet fully developed or available for electrical conductivity applications. This represents a gap in current knowledge. The proposed research addresses this gap by establishing a link between morphology predicted by simulation and the electrical behavior of the composite. Achieving this level of model fidelity requires a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms governing electrical conductivity in these systems, as well as identification of the key factors influencing them (e.g., filler volume fraction, aspect ratio, orientation). The outcomes of this work will contribute both to advancing scientific understanding and to improving practical modeling approaches for conductive polymer nanocomposites.

Faculty Supervisor:

Andrew Hrymak

Student:

Partner:

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: