Highly conductive nanographite/ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene composite

The highly conductive composite based on graphite nanobelts/ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was developed using hot calendering at temperatures below the polymer melting point. The fabricated material exhibits excellent electrical conductivity (up to 40 S cm−1), high efficiency of electromagnetic interference shielding (near 35 dB for 100 μm thick samples) and good mechanical properties (flexibility and mechanical strength). These superior characteristics are the result of synergistic combination involving superior mechanical properties of the polymer, perfect transport characteristics of the filler and the specific method of fabrication allowing for formation of a segregated anisotropic conductive network with a low percolation threshold (0.42 vol %).