POS7-0928
Melt Crystallization for Fabrication of Conductive PDMS Films with Controlled Filler Alignment
Topic
S7. Innovations in Polymeric Composites: From Design and Processing to Industrial Applications
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Haemin Lee (Chung-Ang University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Flexible conductive films have attracted attention for wearable electronics and soft sensing applications. Controlling the spatial distribution of conductive fillers within elastomeric matrices is crucial for achieving stable electrical properties and reliable performance. In this study, conductive PDMS composite films were fabricated via directional melt crystallization (DMC) using menthol as a crystallization template. Acetylene black (AB) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were dispersed in molten menthol and mixed with PDMS to form a homogeneous precursor. By applying a temperature gradient, directional crystallization of menthol was induced, guiding the alignment of conductive fillers along the crystal growth direction. After crystallization, menthol was removed and the PDMS matrix was cured to obtain free-standing conductive films. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the directional alignment of AB/CNT fillers induced by the crystallization process and confirmed the formation of anisotropic microstructures within the PDMS matrix. In addition, the fabricated films exhibited stable electrical resistance, indicating the formation of conductive pathways throughout the composite. These results demonstrate that menthol-based DMC is a simple and effective strategy for controlling filler alignment and fabricating conductive PDMS films with controlled microstructures for flexible electronic applications.
