This review analyzes thermal and electrically conductive properties of composites and how they can be influenced by the addition of special nanoparticles. Composite functional characteristics-such as thermal and electrical conductivity, phase changes, dimensional stability, magnetization, and modulus increase-are tuned by selecting suitable nanoparticle filler material. The conductivity of composites can be related to the formation of conductive pathways as nanofiller materials form connections in the bulk of a composite matrix. With increasing use of nanomaterial containing composites and relatively little understanding of the toxicological effects thereof, adequate disposal and recyclability have become an increasing environmental concern.
Keywords: Seebeck effect; carbon nanoparticles; composite recycling; electrical conductivity; metal nanoparticles; nanoparticles; thermal conductivity.