%0 Journal Article
%T Synthesis and Properties of Electroconductive Polymeric Composite Material Based on Polypyrrole
%A N. S. Ilicheva
%A N. K. Kitaeva
%A V. R. Duflot
%A V. I. Kabanova
%J ISRN Polymer Science
%D 2012
%R 10.5402/2012/320316
%X A technique is proposed for obtaining electroconductive, mechanically strong, and elastic composite material based on polypyrrole and hydrophilized polyethylene. The relationship is established between the process parameters and properties of the composite material such as electroconductivity and mechanical strength. Several methods are considered in the view of increasing electroconductivity of the material. Physical and mechanical properties of the composite material are investigated. 1. Introduction Polypyrrole (PPy) is a typical electroconductive polymer from the class of the unique materials which combine metallic and semiconductor properties with such polymeric characteristics as flexibility, strength, and elasticity. The most essential advantage of such polymers is processability and fine control of their properties by the methods of organic synthesis [1]. Polypyrrole is obtained in the form of black powder by monomer oxidation [2]. By far it is the most extensively studied conducting polymer since a pyrrole monomer is an easily oxidized, water-soluble, commercially available material that possesses environmental stability, good redox properties and high electrical conductivity [3]. Materials based on PPy can be used as different display members, antistatic coatings, and coatings to protect against oxidation and corrosion [4]. However, some factors currently limiting the applications of PPy include its poor mechanical strength and thus low processibility [5]. Single-component materials on the basis of PPy are characterized by extremely low mechanical properties and fragility. There are some reports pertaining to the preparation of conductive polymer composites with inorganic materials such as fly ash [6] and Ag [7]. However, such composites do not exhibit sufficient mechanical properties. This drawback can be eliminated if PPy is combined with an elastic substrate matrix that imparts mechanical strength to the composite material. Different flexible-chain polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride can be used as substrate materials [8¨C10]. Still, low adhesion of PPy to substrates significantly complicates preparation of composite materials, and this problem still remains unsolved. In this work it is proposed to use hydrophilized polyethylene for increasing phase interaction of the substrates with PPy. This approach provides high presorption of pyrrole on the surface of the substrate. As a result of polymerization, a conductive PPy coating is formed, which makes tight bonds with hydrofilized polyethylene. In this way
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.polymer.science/2012/320316/