CONDUCTIVE BLENDS OF THERMALLY DODECYLBENZENE SULFONIC ACID-DOPED POLYANILINE WITH THERMOPLASTIC POLYMERS

In the present study, a conductive polyaniline-dodecyl benzene sulfoni c acid (PANI-DBSA) complex, prepared by a thermal doping process, and its blends with thermoplastic polymers, prepared by melt processing, w ere investigated. PANI-DBSA characterization included conductivity mea surements, morphology, crystallography, and thermal behavior. The blen ds' investigation focused on the morphology and the interaction betwee n the components and on the resulting electrical conductivity. The lev el of interaction between the PANI and the matrix polymer determines t he blend morphology and, thus, its electrical conductivity. Similar so lubility parameters of the two polymeric components are necessary for a high level of PANI dispersion within the matrix polymer and, thus, e nable the formation of conducting paths at low PANI content. The morph ology of these blends is described by a two-structure hierarchy: (a) a primary structure, composed of small dispersed polyaniline particles, and (b) a short-range fine fibrillar structure, interconnecting the d ispersed particles. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.