In the present study, conductive binary and ternary blends containing polya
niline (PANI) were developed through melt blending. The binary blends' inve
stigation focused on the morphology, in light of the components' interactio
n, and the resulting electrical conductivity. Similar solubility parameters
of a given doped PANI and a matrix polymer lend to dispersion of fine PANI
particles within the matrix, and to formation of conducting paths at low P
ANI contents. A plasticizer acting also as a compatibilizer improves the ma
trix polymer/PANI interactions. In ternary blends consisting of PANI and tw
o immiscible polymers, the PANI preferrentially locates in one of the compo
nents, affecting the blend's morphology. This "concentrating" effect leads
to relatively high electrical conductivity at a low PANI content. The elect
rical conductivity of the studied ternary blends is almost il independent o
f the components' sequence of addition into the hot melt mixing device, exh
ibiting the selectivity of PANI towards one of the components. Copyright (C
) 2000 John Wiley & Sons.