COPOLYMERIZATION OF BENZIDINE WITH ANILINES - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

The copolymerization technique is an easy way to achieve better proper ties in a polymer. Copolymers of benzidine with aniline and its substi tuted derivatives in different comonomer proportions were synthesised using chemical and electrochemical methods. The characterization of th e copolymers included elemental, IR, FTIR, XPS, TGA, thermal aging, an d electrical conductivity studies. Specific conductivities of copolyme rs were obtained at different temperatures. Activation energies were c alculated from the change in conductivity with temperature. The effect of steric influence on the electrical conductivities of copolymers wa s observed. Conductivity is also found to be highly dependent on facto rs Like moisture and % doping. Thermal analysis shows a good thermal s tability of the copolymers. The thermal aging process also supports th e results obtained from TGA. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.