Understanding the electrical conduction and dielectric polarization properties of elastomer-based composites is important for the design of flexible and elastic electronic devices and circuits. Five samples were manufactured by mixing silicone rubber (RTV-530) with Al particles in different volume fractions, x equal to 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2.5% and 5.1%. Using the complex impedance measurements, the electric modulus, M, the electrical conductivity, σ, and the dielectric permittivity, ε, over the frequency range 100 Hz-200 kHz were analyzed. The electrical conductivity spectrum, σ(f), follows the Jonscher universal law and the DC conductivity of the samples, σDC, increases from 2.637·10-8 S/m to 5.725·10-8 S/m, with increasing x from, 0 to 5.1%. The conduction process was analyzed in terms of Mott's variable-range-hopping (VRH) model. The hopping distance of the charge carriers, Rh decreases with increasing x, from 7.30 nm (for x = 0) to 5.92 nm (for x = 5.1%). The frequency dependence of permittivity, ε(f) = ε'(f) - iε″(f), reveals a relaxation process with the maximum of ε″(f) shifting from 301 Hz to 385 Hz and values of ε'(f) increasing with the increase of x.
Keywords: aluminum; complex dielectric permittivity; composite; electrical conductivity; electrical modulus; flexible electronics; silicon rubber.