ABSTRACT
Electrically conducting fibers based on carbon nanomaterial/polymer composites are of special interest in a number of industrial applications. The electrical conductivity of blends, nanocomposite fibers, and coated fibers depends strongly on the amount of conjugated polymers or conducting fillers. Melt spinning is a commonly used method to produce nanocomposite fibers using flexible-chain thermoplastic polymers such as polyolefin, polyester, and nylon. The electrospinning technique is also used to produce composite nanofibers containing carbon nanomaterials. The incorporation of carbon nanomaterials into electrospun nanofibers significantly improves the mechanical properties as well as electrical and thermal conductivity. The electrical as well as mechanical properties of nanocomposite fibers can be significantly improved by properly controlling the morphology of conducting filler networks within the nanocomposite fibers. Polymer nanocomposite nanofibers have also been developed for the sensing of organic volatile compounds. Carbon nanomaterial–based nanocomposite fibers have a great application potential in the sensing of mechanical stresses and strains.
