Synthesis and characterization of thin polypyrrole layers on polyethylene microporous films

The paper describes the synthesis and properties of polypyrrole (PPyr) laye rs, obtained by gas-phase oxidative polymerization, on the surface of a mic roporous polyethylene (PE) film. Kinetic studies have revealed three stages in the pyrrole polymerization in situ on the PE film. Properties of the co mposite with various contents of PPyr have been investigated by ultrafiltra tion, gas separation, and electrodialysis techniques. The composite contain ing up to 12% of PPyr is an ultrafiltration membrane permeable to liquids. The electrolytic resistance of the HCl-doped PE PPyr composite anion-exchan ge membranes has been measured with direct and alternating current as a fun ction of the polypyrrole content. Electron-microscopic and mechanical chara cteristics of the PE films and composite membranes have been determined. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.