Journal of Radio Electronics. eISSN 1684-1719. 2026. №8

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30898/1684-1719.2026.8.11

Computer simulation
of electrical conductivity
in polymer composites with carbon filler

S.V. Belim

Omsk State Technical University,
644050, Russia, Omsk, pr. Mira, 11

The paper was received July 8, 2026.

Abstract. Conductive polymer composites with carbon filler are actively used in electronic devices for shielding various nodes. Carbon black is one of the cheapest materials used as a filler and provides electrical conductivity. The article examines electrical conductivity in polymer composite materials with carbon black filler by computer simulation. A new approach to the formation of carbon particles agglomerates based on the Monte Carlo method is proposed. Agglomerates have electrical conductivity due to their composition and structure. The simulation suggests two conduction mechanisms between the agglomerates. Electric current passes through direct contact between particles of agglomerates. A tunneling effect is also possible for electrons between neighbor agglomerates with a small distance between them. In the simulation, the maximum distance between the agglomerates is entered to ensure electrical conductivity. Based on the search for conductive contacts between the agglomerates, a graph corresponding to the electrical network formed by the agglomerates within the composite sample is inserted. The search for conducting paths is carried out using a graph clustering algorithm that reveals a subset of connected agglomerates. Systems with different concentrations of carbon black particles have been investigated. A dependence of the probability of the occurrence of electroconductive paths on the concentration of carbon black particles was obtained in computer experiment. It is shown that electrical percolation takes place in the system, transforming the composite from a dielectric state into a conductive one. Percolation transition occurs in the range of volume concentration from 5 % to 15 %. At volume concentrations of carbon particles above 15 %, conductive paths are formed with a probability of unity and the composite material becomes a conductor. The obtained values   are in good agreement with the experimental data. The difference between the proposed model and the previously developed one is taking into account the structure, shape and spread of the agglomerate sizes. This refinement of the model will increase the agreement of the simulation results with the experimental data. The search for conductive paths based on the clustering algorithm gives not only the path length, but also allows you to take into account the change in the thickness of the agglomerates conductive chain.

Key words: conductivity of composites, computer simulation, Monte Carlo method.

Financing: The research was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation No. 26-29-20003 and a grant № 23 from the Omsk Region 08.07.2026

Corresponding author: Belim Sergey Victorovich, sbelim@mail.ru

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For citation:

Belim S.V. Computer simulation of electrical conductivity in polymer composites with carbon filler. // Journal of Radio Electronics. – 2026. – № 8. https://doi.org/10.30898/1684-1719.2026.8.11 (In Russian)