Electrical and morphological properties of polyaniline–polyvinyl alcohol in situ nanocomposites

• Published in: Composites. Part B, Engineering Vol. 56; pp. 857 - 861
• Main Authors: Arenas, M.C., Sánchez, Gabriela, Martínez-Álvarez, O., Castaño, V.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Nano-structure; Applied sciences; B. Electrical properties; Composites; Conducting polymers; D. Electron microscopy; E. Cure; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; B. Electrical properties; Conducting polymers; E. Cure; D. Electron microscopy; A. Nano-structure; Electrical conductivity; Electrical properties; Aromatic polymer; Mechanical properties; Surfactant; Antistatic agent; Experimental study; Property processing relationship; Composite material; Polyelectrolyte; Structure processing relationship; Polyvinylalcohol; Morphology; Preparation; Nanocomposite; Oxidative polymerization; Aniline polymer
• ISSN: 1359-8368; 1879-1069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2013.09.010

Aqueous suspensions of polyvinyl alcohol–polyaniline (PVA–PAni) nanocomposites were prepared by conventional polymerization of aniline in the presence of a PVA solution mixed with either a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) or organic acids (poly acrylic acid or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) used as binary dopants, to improve the solubility of the nanocomposites. Films were prepared by casting at different contents of PAni (1–60wt.%). The best homogeneous films were obtained from the surfactant nanocomposites with a low threshold percolation, between 3wt.% and 5wt.% of PAni, achieving an electrical conductivity about 0.044S/cm, attractive as an antistatic material in electronics, since also their mechanical properties are adequate.