DISPERSION POLYMERIZATION OF PYRROLE USING POLY(VINYL METHYL-ETHER) AS STABILIZER

Polypyrrole (PPy) dispersions are prepared at room temperature by oxid ative polymerization using FeCl3 oxidant in the presence of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) as stabilizer, and ethanol or aqueous ethanol as the dispersion medium. With water as dispersion medium, lower tempera tures are required when the solvent property of water towards the PVME stabilizer becomes good enough to effect steric stabilization. PPy pr epared in 50% ethanol or in water exhibits high specific conductivity, about 10 S cm(-1), while PPy prepared in ethanol under similar condit ions has a conductivity two to four decades lower, depending on the Fe Cl3 concentration and temperature used in the preparation. Transmissio n electron micrographs of PPy reveal that the particles are spherical but polydisperse.