Robert J. L. Chimenti

Conductivity mechanisms in complex fluids

The present paper describes the results of a study of the electrical conductivity of residual petroleum oils. These oils are chemically complex mixtures and the particular type chosen for the study consisted of about 70% aromatic hydrocarbons, one half of which are PNAs (polynuclear aromatics) containing mostly 2 to 7 fused rings, 25% heterocyclic aromatic molecules (usually polar molecules containing nitrogen and oxygen), and the remainder aliphatic compounds. This liquid is almost black in color and highly viscous (η > 10,000 cps at 20°C), typical of a tar-like substance. The oil was mixed with a number of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, which allowed us to probe the mechanism of conductivity in these complex liquids.