| The objective of this study was to look at the effect of molecular mobility on conductivity in polyurethanes. Specifically, it was to see if changing the hard/soft ratio to increase molecular mobility or the addition of plasticizer to increase molecular mobility would produce the same amount of conductivity or if the plasticizer molecules were having a separate effect of their own. It was found that as the percentage of soft prepolymer was increased, the hardness and modulus decreased while the electrical conductivity increased. The same was true when plasticizer was added. Increases in plasticizer content led to decreases in hardness and modulus and an increase in conductivity. However, at equivalent modulus or hardness values the plasticized samples had lower conductivity than the ones made at the corresponding hard/soft ratios. |
