Composite films of castor oil-based polyurethane (COPU) and polyaniline (PAni) were obtained by two methods. In the first one, the composites were prepared by chemical polymerization of polyaniline in situ onto PU surface, and in the second method, the composite called semi-interpenetrating network (sIPN) were prepared by swelling the polyurethane sheets with aniline followed by immersing the specimen in an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid (HCl) containing ammonium persulphate as oxidant. A typical coating layer with electrical conductivity around 10° S/cm, with excellent adhesion and transparency between 50 to 60% in the range of 475 to 605 nm were obtained. The maximum thickness was reached in one hour of immersion for polymerization at 0°C. The layer thickness showed to be dependent on time immersion and the aniline polymerization temperature. The bulk conductivity and surface resistivity were found around 10-4 S/cm and 105 ω/?, respectively for the composite obtained by swollen method. These composites are thermally stable up to 90°C and showed a globular morphology. DSC spectra showed a shift around 15°C, to high temperature direction, on the glass transition temperature for the sIPN composite, and the UV-vis-NIR spectra showed a typical spectrum of doped polyaniline. Besides the use of a polymer from a renewable source, the results on the control of electrical conductivity indicate that the composite films obtained can be used for purposes such as antistatic and electromagnetic shielding. © 2012 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Flexible, free-standing piezo and pyroelectric composite with 0 to 3 connectivity was made up from Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) powder and poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) copolymer. The pyroelectric and the piezoelectric longitudinal (d33) coefficients were measured. A 50/50 vol.% PZT/PVDF-HFP composite resulted in piezo and pyroelectric coefficients of d33 = 25.0 pC/N and p = 4.5 × 10-4 C/m²K at 70 °C, respectively. Analysis of the complex permittivity in a wide range of frequency was carried out indicating lower permittivity of the composite in comparison with a permittivity of the PZT ceramic. The low value of the permittivity gives a high pyroelectric figure of merit indicating that this material can be used to build a temperature sensor in spite of the lower pyroelectric coefficient compared with PZT.

Flexible, free-standing piezo and pyroelectric composite with 0 to 3 connectivity was made up from Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) powder and poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) copolymer. The pyroelectric and the piezoelectric longitudinal (d33) coefficients were measured. A 50/50 vol.% PZT/PVDF-HFP composite resulted in piezo and pyroelectric coefficients of d33 = 25.0 pC/N and p = 4.5 × 10-4 C/m²K at 70 °C, respectively. Analysis of the complex permittivity in a wide range of frequency was carried out indicating lower permittivity of the composite in comparison with a permittivity of the PZT ceramic. The low value of the permittivity gives a high pyroelectric figure of merit indicating that this material can be used to build a temperature sensor in spite of the lower pyroelectric coefficient compared with PZT.

A composite of natural rubber (NR) with polyaniline (PANI) was obtained by mixing an aqueous dispersion of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA)-doped PANI with NR latex in different concentrations. Films were obtained by the casting method and characterized by ultraviolet visible near-infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), stress-strain testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and DC electrical conductivity measurements. The UV-vis-NIR spectrum showed that PANI remained doped in the composite, and this improved the mechanical and electrical proprieties of NR films and afforded them good thermal stability up to ~200ºC. The percolation threshold did not follow the universal critical exponent, and in this case, conduction preferentially occurs by hopping and tunneling.

Resumo Neste trabalho partículas de níquel foram incorporadas através da mistura física do pó resultante da mistura PVDF/Pani obtido por síntese química. Filmes homogêneos foram obtidos através da prensagem a temperatura de 180°C. A partir dos resultados pode-se notar alterações favoráveis e desfavoráveis nas propriedades do compósito após a incorporação e como estas tornam-se dependentes da incorporação. Os resultados de difratometria apresentaram picos característicos tanto da fase α da matriz polimérica e das partículas de níquel, e juntamente com as analises térmicas, que não há alteração na estrutura conformacional e a configuracional. Mesmo apresentando uma boa estabilidade térmica a incorporação indica que além da presença do polímero condutor como o aumento de partículas são prejudiciais às propriedades mecânicas finais da amostra. As micrografias apresentam as partículas de forma dispersas ao longo do filme e determinantes para os valores de condutividade elétrica e obtenção de uma fase magnética.

In this work nickel particles were incorporated by physically mixing of resulting powder blends of PVDF/Pani, obtained by chemical synthesis. Homogeneous films were obtained by hot pressing at 180 °C. From the results could be noted favorable and unfavorable changes in the properties of composites after incorporation and how this become dependent of the incorporation. The results of diffraction showed the characteristic peaks of both the α phase of the polymer matrix and the nickel particles, and with thermal analysis, no change in the conformational structure and configurational. Even with a good thermal stability incorporating, indicates that besides the presence of the conducting polymer as the increase of particles are harmful to the final mechanical properties of the sample. Micrographs showed particles dispersed throughout the film and determinants to electrical conductivity values and achieving a magnetic phase.

Abstract The non-isothermal decomposition kinetics of conductive polyaniline (PANI) and its derivatives, poly(o-methoxyaniline) (POMA) and poly(o-ethoxyaniline) (POEA), was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), under inert and oxidative atmospheres, using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa’s approach to assess the kinetic parameters of the decomposition process. The order of reaction was found to be dependent on the degree of conversion indicating that both the early and the later stages of polymer degradation were next the zero or pseudo zero order kinetics, whereas the intermediate stages follow a first order kinetics. The activation energy was found to be dependent on both the degree of conversion and PANI derivative. Activation energy values vary from 125 to 250 kJ/mol, to decompositions carried out under nitrogen, and 75 to 120 kJ/mol to oxidative atmosphere. Parent PANI presented the best thermal stability and suggesting that thermal stability is also influenced by derivatization and type of atmosphere used.

The non-isothermal decomposition kinetics of conductive polyaniline (PANI) and its derivatives, poly(o-methoxyaniline) (POMA) and poly(o-ethoxyaniline) (POEA), was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), under inert and oxidative atmospheres, using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa's approach to assess the kinetic parameters of the decomposition process. The order of reaction was found to be dependent on the degree of conversion indicating that both the early and the later stages of polymer degradation were next the zero or pseudo zero order kinetics, whereas the intermediate stages follow a first order kinetics. The activation energy was found to be dependent on both the degree of conversion and PANI derivative. Activation energy values vary from 125 to 250 kJ/mol, to decompositions carried out under nitrogen, and 75 to 120 kJ/mol to oxidative atmosphere. Parent PANI presented the best thermal stability and suggesting that thermal stability is also influenced by derivatization and type of atmosphere used.

Abstract Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is an abundant and renewable by-product of the cashew nut industry. It appears to be a valuable raw material for generating semiconductive polyaniline (PAni) nanomaterial with enhanced thermal stability and well-defined nanofiber morphology following a polymerization dispersion process. This study confirms that CNSL acts as a soft template during PAni synthesis, leading to an improvement in the nanofiber aspect. CNSL also improves the thermal stability of the PAni nanomaterial. Moreover, CNSL is an effective surfactant that promotes and stabilizes the dispersion of PAni nanofibers within water, allowing the more ecofriendly preparation of PAni nanomaterial by substituting the commonly used organic solvent with aqueous media. Finally, although CNSL promotes the formation of the conductive emeraldine salt form of PAni, increasing CNSL concentrations appear to plasticize the PAni polymer, leading to reduced electrical conductivity. However, this reduction is not detrimental, and PAni nanofibers remain semiconductive even under high CNSL concentrations.