ELECTROCONDUCTIVE POLYMER COMPOSITE - FIBROUS CARRIER-POLYPYRROLE

Obtaining a ''hybrid'' electroconductive polymer composite material on the basis of a fibrous carrier and polypyrrole (pPy) was studied. As fibrous carriers, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and chemically modified poly acrylonitrile possessing ion-exchange properties were used. FeCl3, cho sen as an initiator for oxidative polymerization of pyrrole (Py), was introduced in the fibrous matrix by sorption from an aqueous or diethy lether solution. The polypyrrole film was deposited onto/in a matrix p repared in this way by polymerization of pyrrole in a vapor phase, fro m the vacuum, or from a solution of Py in toluene. In some cases, an a dditional doping of the obtained (electroconductive) pPy film, with io dine vapors in the vacuum, was also applied. An electroconductive comp osite material, with volume resistivity of about 10 Omega cm, was obta ined. The results, related to the different nature of the fibrous carr ier and different procedures for the oxidizer introduction or pPy depo sition, were discussed. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.