Formation of thermally stable polypyrrole-naphthalene benzene sulfonate carbon fiber composites by an electrochemical process

High volume fraction of polypyrrole coatings doped with aromatic naphthalen e-1,5-disulfonic acid disodium salt (NDSDNa) and benzene sulfonic acid sodi um salt (BzSNa), respectively, have been formed on carbon fibers. Polypyrro le coatings as high as 390% (similar to 80% by weight) was formed on carbon fibers after about 45 min of electropolymerization. Fourier transform Infr ared Spectroscopy (FTIR), of the coatings confirmed that the resulting poly pyrrole coatings were doped with benzene sulfonate and naphthalene disulfon ate ions, respectively. Thermal analysis shows char retention of the polypy rrole coatings to be greater than or equal to 65%, indicating that the elec tropolymerized polypyrrole coatings have excellent thermal stability and ar e good candidates for use in carbon-carbon composites. (C) 1999 Published b y Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.