Poly(phenylenediamine) dispersions

The formation and properties of poly(phenylenediamine) colloidal dispersion s were investigated. Oxidative dispersion polymerization of 1,3-phenylenedi amine dihydrochloride stabilized with poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) was taken as a reference experiment. Conductivity, temperature, and acidity of the reac tion mixture were recorded during the polymerization. Oxidations of all thr ee phenylenediamine bases, of corresponding dihydrochlorides, and of dihydr ochlorides in excess acid are compared. The effect of the nature of steric stabilizer on the course of polymerization was found to be marginal. Disper sion polymerization was observed to proceed faster than the precipitation o ne. Dynamic Light scattering was used to assess particle sizes in poly(phen ylenediamine) dispersions. The results are discussed in relation to an anal ogous polymerization of aniline leading to polyaniline dispersions. (C) 200 1 Academic Press.