STABILITY OF PROCESSED POLY(3-OCTYLTHIOPHENE) AND ITS BLENDS

Electrically conducting poly(3-octylthiophene) (POT) and blends thereo f have been processes and analyzed. Processing was done by extrusion u sing POT as the electrically active component the insulating polymer m atrix being EVA, PE, PP, PS or PB. For these basic studies the in situ doping was done by I2, FeCl3 and sulfonic acid. Room temperature cond uctivity was used to probe the percolation of the conductivity as a fu nction of matrix and dopant concentration. The measured conductivities varied between those of the insulating matrices and 1.10(-2) OMEGA-1c m-1. The long term stability of the conductivity was measured in vario us atmospheres at room temperature as well as elevated temperatures. T he effect of stabilizers was also studied.