MELT-PROCESSED ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMER POLYANILINE BLENDS

In the present study, conductive polyaniline-p-toluene sulfonic acid ( PANI-pTSA) blends with thermoplastic polymers were prepared by melt pr ocessing. The blends' characterization focused on their morphology in light of the components' interaction and the resulting electrical cond uctivity. The PANI-pTSA blends were compared with blends containing PA NI-DBSA (dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid). Generally, the level of inter action between the doped polyaniline and the matrix polymer determines the blend morphology and the resulting electrical conductivity. Simil ar solubility parameters of the matrix polymer and doped PANI lead to high levels of PANI dispersion within the matrix and to formation of c onducting paths at low PANI contents. The morphology of a conducting n etwork is described by a primary structure of small dispersed PANI par ticles interconnected by a secondary, short-range, fine fibrillar stru cture. The doped PANI network locates within the amorphous regions of a semicrystalline matrix, leading to reduction of the percolation conc entration.