Dielectric, electrical and microstructural properties of unfilled and MWCNTs filled polystyrene nanocomposite prepared by in-situ polymerization technique using ultrasonic irradiation

The unfilled and ­multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) filled polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites are prepared by in-situ polymerization technique using ultrasonic irradiation. The effect of different volume fraction ( ) of MWCNTs in PS has been studied with respect to their dielectric and electrical characterizations as a function of frequency and temperature. The dielectric constant of different volume fraction ( ) of MWCNTs shows higher value at low frequency region and it shows frequency independent behaviour at higher frequency. The dc conductivity is found to increase with increasing volume fraction ( ) of MWCNTs whereas ac conductivity increases with increasing frequency. The SEM image reveals uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in polymer matrix