Cheap Plastic Could Improve Electronic Devices

Cheap plastic in CDs and DVDs could one day improve the integrity of electronics in aircraft, computers and handheld electronics, researchers said today.

Shay Curran, associate professor of physics at University of Houston , and his research team created ultra-high electrical conductive properties in plastics, called polycarbonates, by mixing them with carbon nanotubes.

Computer failure, for instance, results from the build up of thermal and electrical charges, so developing these polymer nanotube composites into an antistatic coating or to provide a shield against electromagnetic interference would increase the lifespan of computing devices, ranging from PCs to PDAs.

The findings are detailed in the Journal of Applied Physics.

"While its mechanical and optical properties are very good, polycarbonate is a non-conductive plastic. That means its ability to carry an electrical charge is as good as a tree, which is pretty awful," Curran said. "Imagine that this remarkable plastic can now not only have good optical and mechanical properties, but also good electrical characteristics. By being able to tailor the amount of nanotubes we can add to the composite, we also can change it from the conductivity of silicon to a few orders below that achieved by metals."