S054042 Changes in structure and conductivity of carbon nanotubes dispersion under shear flow

Abstract

In this study, we have investigated the changes in flow property and electric characteristic of carbon nanotube (CNT) suspensions under steady simple shear flows applied. The CNT was dispersed in polybutene of an insulating carrier liquid. A parallel plate type rheometer was utilized, and shear thinning viscosities and normal forces were measured. Moreover,electrical resistances of the liquid film between the two plates were also obtained. The flow curve of shear viscosity shows two step shear thinning property and a typical shear rate was estimated between the two shear thinning regions. The normal forces and the electric resistances were rapidly increased in high shear rate region. The increase in the normal force was normalized well with the typical shear rate obtained with the viscosity flow curve. However the deviating point of the electric resistance from the constant value in a low shear rate region was almost same as that of the normal force, the increase in the resistance after the deviation were dependent on the volume fraction of CNT.