Synergistic effect of polyaniline and multiwalled carbon nanotube on the microstructure and the electric property in PP/PANI/MWNT composites

Abstract

AbstractIn this article, the volume conductivity of polypropylene (PP)/polyaniline (PANI)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites was detected. When the ratio of PANI protonated with dodecylbenzene sulphonic acid (PANI‐DBSA) to MWNT is 2 to 3 and 3 to 17, the volume conductivity of the two composites is much higher than that of composites filled with solely PANI‐DBSA or MWNT. The synergistic effects of PANI‐DBSA and MWNT on the microstructure and the electric property of PP/PANI/MWNT composites were carefully analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy. The SEM results illuminate that the dispersion and the continuity of the composites filled with PANI‐DBSA and MWNT are far better than that filled with only PANI‐DBSA or MWNT. Especially, the dispersion and continuity of PP/PANI/MWNT 5, in which the ratio of PANI‐DBSA to MWNT is 3 to 17, are the best among all the composites. When PANI‐DBSA is introduced in PP/PANI/MWNT composites, the size of agglomerated particles decreases, and the dispersion of conductive particles is improved evidently. Therefore, there is a synergistic action of PANI‐DBSA and MWNT, which is used to improve the dispersion of conductive particles and the volume conductivity of the PP/PANI/MWNT composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers