CONDUCTIVE POLYANILINE-POLYCHLOROPRENE BLENDS

The electrical conductivity of polychloroprene (CR)/polyaniline (Pani) blends prepared by bulk and solution processes were investigated. Pan i doped with HCl (Pani . HCl) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (Pani . TSA) were employed in vulcanized blends obtained by the bulk process. These blends showed an increase in the conductivity only for blend composit ion of CR/Pani = 50:50 wt %. At this composition, blends with Pani HCl and Pani . pTSA presented conductivity values of 10(-9) and 10(-10) S . cm(-1) respectively. CR/Pani . HCl blend films prepared by the solu tion process displayed surface conductivity values of 10(-4) S . cm(-1 ) with as low as 10-15 wt % of PAni . HCl. Surface analysis of these b lends by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated no traces of the c onductive additive. The surface composition was found to be exclusivel y constituted of CR. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.