WATER-SOLUBLE POLYPYRROLES BY MATRIX POLYMERIZATION - INTERPOLYMER COMPLEXES

A new class of water-soluble polypyrroles (PPy) has been developed. Th is was accomplished by oxidative matrix polymerization of pyrrole (Py) monomer with Ce(IV) in the presence of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), and copolymers (CP) of vinyl pyrrolidone(VP ) with acrylic acid (AA) [VP/AA; 25/75 (CP1), 50/50 (CP2), 75/25 (CP3) ]. The soluble and insoluble interpolymer complexes were observed acco rding to the nature (and conformation) of polymers in mixture, the rat io of components, and the pH of solutions. The role of PAA, PVP, CP, P y, and Ce(TV) concentrations, the order of component addition, and the pH of the solutions were investigated. The evidence and structural re asons for the formation of soluble interpolymer complexes of PPy with different polymers are discussed. It is proposed that the compactizati on of the polymer matrix as well as the disturbance of the regularity of reactive groups on the polymer chain decreases the possibility of f ormation of soluble interpolymer complexes. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons , Inc.