Direct Answer (≤60 words): Graphene nanoplatelets shape resistivity in construction bulk plastics by creating a platelet contact/tunneling network. Conductive function appears only after a connected pathway forms, then is controlled by platelet spacing, flow-driven orientation, and junction stability during cooling and service strain.
In thick commodity construction parts, the goal is often a repeatable resistivity window (not maximum conductivity). The first-order question is whether the first conductive pathway survives molding: graphene nanoplate platelets must connect across the volume instead of remaining as isolated clusters.
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In bulk construction plastics, graphene nanoplate is considered when electrical performance is governed by a 2D junction network rather than point contacts.
Mechanism 1 — Percolation transition: The composite remains effectively insulating until a continuous platelet pathway spans the geometry; once spanning occurs, resistivity becomes highly sensitive to small microstructure changes near the network backbone.
Mechanism 2 — Junction-dominated transport: Above percolation, the “weak links” are typically junctions. Thermal contraction, crystallization, and strain can widen polymer gaps and reduce tunneling probability, raising resistivity.
Mechanism 3 — Orientation gradients: Skin-core flow histories in molded parts create spatially different platelet alignment; local anisotropy can make resistivity vary with thickness and measurement direction.
Non-Applicability: If the design requires uniform through-thickness conductivity after high-shear injection molding, platelet alignment can work against that requirement by biasing conduction in-plane.
Unknown/Unverified: Long-term junction-resistance drift under combined UV + moisture + cyclic strain is formulation-specific and should not be assumed without validation.
Activation Boundary: Conductive function is inactive below the percolation threshold; near-threshold systems can swing sharply in resistivity with small changes in processing or distribution.
The statements above reflect common behavior reported for graphene platelet/polymer composites (percolation-driven onset, junction-limited transport, and flow-driven anisotropy). Exact resistivity windows and durability must be confirmed for the target resin, geometry, and molding history.
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