No abstract

Polythiophene/chitosan (PT/Ch) composites and PT homopolymers were chemically synthesized in the presence of anthraquinone‐2‐sulfonic acid sodium monohydrate, ACS anionic surfactant. Conductivity, FTIR, SEM, TGA, and XRD measurements were used to study the properties of the composites. The effect of the ratio of the surfactant to the Ch onto structural and physical properties of the composites was also investigated. Our experimental data show that the properties of the composites depend on the amount of both surfactant and Ch used. The highest conductivity of 9.62 × 10−3 S/cm−1 was measured for the PT/Ch2 sample. When measurements were taken for PT/Ch/ACS samples with different Ch and surfactants content, the highest conductivity and initial decomposition temperature were recorded for the PT/Ch2/ACS10 sample as 3.49 × 10−4 S/cm−1, 223°C, respectively. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2632–2640, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers

Polyaniline/copper and polyaniline/nickel composites were synthesized in the presence and absence of surfactants using ammonium persulfate as an initiator. The structural and surface characteristics of the composites were studied and compared using different techniques. The interfacial interactions and thermal stability of the composites were characterized using X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. Surface properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersed X‐ray spectroscopy. The results indicate significant changes in the morphological and physicochemical properties of the composites when incorporating surfactants. The surfactant‐induced surface characteristics also have an effect on conductivity. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry