Studies of electrical and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) mixed with electrically conductive additives

Different samples of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) compositions were formulated from PVC, a polar plasticizer such as dioctylphthalate (DOP), and variable proportions of electrically conductive additives such as fast extrusion furnace (FEF) carbon black (CB), poly(vinylpyridine) (PVP), or polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Epoxidized soybean oil was added as a heat stabilizer. Samples of the PVC–CB system were also prepared by dispersing different concentrations of CB into the PVC matrix. The electrical studies showed that the addition of CB to the PVC–DOP system produces a plasticized PVC with high electrical conductivity whereas the compounding of PVC with CB produces a sample with much higher electrical conductivity. The effect of the structure of PVP and PAN on the electrical and mechanical properties of the PVC–DOP system was also studied to obtain a semiconductive plasticized PVC with good mechanical properties. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1590–1598, 2004