PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE POLYANILINE-POLYSTYRENE COMPOSITES BY IN-SITU POLYMERIZATION AND BLENDING

Electrically conductive polyaniline (PANI)-polystyrene (PS) composites were prepared by in-situ polymerization and blending. The polymerizat ion was carried out by adding the oxidant and dodecylbenzenesulfonic a cid (DBSA) dissolved in xylene to the xylene solution comprising anili ne and PS. The electrical conductivity of PANI-PS composites was impro ved with increasing amount of PANI and reached a high value of 0.1 S c m(-1) at content of 12 wt%. The PANI content in PANI-PS composites was calculated by means of elemental analysis and weight measurements. Th e PANI-PS composites were very soluble in organic solvents such as chl oroform, xylene, and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). The electrical conduct ivity of PANI, doped with dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), and ther mally treated at 180 degrees C for 3 h was more stable than that of co nventional PANI-HCl complex. The structure and morphology of PANI-PS c omposites were investigated through the measurements of FT-IR and SEM (scanning electron micrograph).