Electrically conducting polymers from phenylacetylene substituted Schiff's base monomers

Abstract

Summary form only given. Electrically conducting polymers have been synthesized from novel mono- or difunctional phenyl-acetylene-substituted Schiff's base monomers. These monomers melt to a viscous liquid state, and on continued heating above about 300/spl deg/C, thermally polymerize to form an electrically insulating thermoset polymers. On further post-cure heat treatment, the polymers become electroconductive showing a bulk conductivity of approximately 10/sub -2/ S/cm. Because the monomers remain in a licluid stage for I - 2 h, depending on the cure conditions, moldings, castings, and pre-pregs can be fabricated using conventional processing techniques. In addition, since reactive dopants are not, used, the resulting polymers and conductivity are stable in ambient as well as more aggressive environments, allowing them to function at 300/spl deg/C and above. The monomers are well characterized, but the structure of the cured and postcured polymers are not yet well defined because of their high stability and intractability in the cured state.