Electrical properties of nanocomposites subjected to deformation

The electrophysical properties of a new type of nanocomposites are considered. In these materials, the metallic granules are distributed in a rubberlike matrix. Nanocomposites exhibit either metallic or hopping conduction, depending on the bulk concentration of the metallic granules. The effect of pressure (for hydrostatic compression and for uniaxial deformation) upon the resistance of such composites is studied in both conduction regimes. The practically important extremely strong dependence of their resistance upon pressure in the hopping conduction regime is a consequence of the exponentially strong dependence of the probability of intergranule electron tunneling on the distance between the granules.