Recyclability of Carbon Nanomaterials-Based Conductive Polymer Composites

Electrically conductive polymer composites (CPC) have a broad range of commercial applications including electronic packaging, capacitors, conductive adhesives and paints, membrane fuel cells, actuators, etc. CPC typically consist of an insulating polymer matrix and an electrically conductive filler which forms a continuous conductive network due to the percolation mechanism. Carbon-based nanomaterials, such as carbon black, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes as well as graphene and its derivatives, have been extensively studied as one of the most interesting classes of conductive fillers for CPCs, due to their unique geometries and combinations of functional attributes such as mechanical, thermal, optical and barrier properties.

With respect of the current green politics trends and the global transition toward a circular economy, an extensive research effort is dedicated to investigating the recyclability of plastics and related (nano)composites in order to make recommendations for best recycling and recovery practices for these materials. In this context, the recyclability of carbon nanomaterials-based CPC, as a growing class of polymer nanocomposites, seems to be a matter of a particular interest.