Effect of weld line defects on electrical conductivity of injection molded parts with various carbon nano fibers/PP composites

As well known, the weld line defect in injection molding process results detrimental to mechanical properties and surface quality. However, the electrical conductivity of the injection molded part is influenced as well. In this study, in order to reveal the mechanism of the weld line affecting the electrical conductivity of injection molding parts, the conductive polymer composites with various carbon nanofibers filling contents were compounded. Those composites were formed as the tensile samples with and without weld line defects by injection molding process. According to the electrical resistance measurements for the samples, it can be found that at relative low filling content of 10wt%, the weld line contributes to increase the electrical conductivity of the injection molding parts due to its effect on nanofibers' orientation. However, when the filling content is higher than 20wt%, this effect is not significant any more.