Thermal analysis of conductive blends of PVDF and poly(o-methoxyaniline)

The thc thermal behavior of blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride), or PVDF, a nd poly(o-methoxyaniline) doped with toluene sulfonic acid was studied by t hermogravimetic analysis, electrical conductivity measurements, differentia l scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Blends with thermal and electrical conductivity stabler than the conductiv e polymer alone were obtained. Nevertheless, degradation occurs after a lon g period of time (500 h) at high temperatures. The possible association of the conductivity decay with dopant loss, degradation and structural and mor phological changes of the blend is discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.