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Polymers and Polymer Composites

SEMI-INTERPENETRATING CONDUCTING ELASTOMER COMPOSITE THIN FILMS FROM POLYANILINE

March 1, 2006 By: Sreeja R; Sharma P D; Najidha S; Jayan S R; Predeep P Research article

Title: SEMI-INTERPENETRATING CONDUCTING ELASTOMER COMPOSITE THIN FILMS FROM POLYANILINE
Page Range: p.261-269
Author(s): Sreeja R; Sharma P D; Najidha S; Jayan S R; Predeep P
File size: 124K
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 14
Issue No: No. 3

Abstract
Conductive polyaniline (PANI) was blended with elastomers (NR and NBR) by a wet mixing process with the aim of producing flexible ultra thin conductive films. The rubbers used were raw, without any vulcanisation, and thus could be easily fabricated as thin films by solution casting. The compatibility of the polymer blends was estimated experimentally by spectroscopic and swelling studies. Good conductive properties were found for NR composite films with 30 wt% of HCl treated PANI and NBR composite films with 20 wt% of HCl treated PANI. Spectroscopic analysis and swelling measurements indicated that the composites were not just simple blends, but were rather complex macromolecular systems in which the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the composites depended on the nature and interaction between the rubber matrices. HCl treated PANI acted as both a reinforcement and a conductive filler in blends with NR. With nitrile rubber, HCl treated PANI improved the conductive behaviour and increased the rigidity of the films. The method is claimed to open up a new technique for the preparation of stable conductive thin films of PANI using dopants such as HCl. 24 refs.

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