Winatthakan Phuchaduek, Ubolluk Rattanasak, and Supranee Kaewpirom

pp. 529 - 535

Abstract

Biodegradable polymer composites based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and ferrofluid (FF) were prepared by solution
casting method. Such composites were characterized by various methods in order to evaluate their potential for use as electrostatic dissipative (ESD) materials. Effects of ferrofluid content on mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of the
composites were investigated. The morphology of the composites was examined by SEM and the water contact angle on the
composite surface was also measured. Experimental results showed that surface resistivity of the composites can be reduced
by the addition of FF. The abrupt transition of such resistivity occurred in the concentration range 20-30 wt.% FF. The
conductive mechanism of the proposed composites is a complex manner, including contact conduction and tunneling
conduction.