B. Wessling

Electrical conductivity in heterogeneous polymer systems(V):

Further experimental evidence for a phase transition at the critical volume concentration

Polym. Engin. Sci. 31 (16), 1200 - 1206

This paper is describing and interpreting all previous experimental results and corresponding publications* concering the phenomenon of sudden conductivity breakthrough at a certain critical volume concentration of a dispersed conductive phase. It is shown that dispersion, phase separation and flocculation are the elementary steps for the self-organisation of those structures which are responsible for the sudden conductivity increase.

The mechanism for this is described in detail, as well as the experiments contributing the foundation for this hypothesis.

critical volume concentration curves (conductivity treshold) of polyaniline in blends (previous terms: percolation treshold)

At the time this paper was written, the non-equilibrium thermodynamical description was not yet completely found, but it can be seen how it is derived from this experimental basis.

* see literature list