Thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) polyaniline conducting blends

A series of blends of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and polyaniline (PANI) was prepared by solution casting and investigated by methods of thermal analys is, namely thermogravimetric analysis (TG), coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FT/IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC ). It was found that the thermal stability of this polymer system depends o n the composition of blend; the main product of prevailing PVC decompositio n process - hydrogen chloride - seems to play specific role during degradat ion since it can react with PANI structures, characterized by different pro tonation degree.