Mechanical blends of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and polyaniline doped with dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (PAni-DBSA) were prepared in a two-roll mill at 50°C and in a Haake internal mixer at 150°C. The effects of the blend composition and processing conditions on the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties were investigated. These blends exhibited high levels of electrical conductivity at a small amount of PAni complex. Blends prepared in a two-roll mill displayed conductivity values as high as 1 S/cm and a higher protonation degree than the pure PAni-DBSA, as indicated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Two different insulator-conductor transition points were observed in these blends. The mechanical performance decreased as the amount of PAni-DBSA increased, indicating blend incompatibility and a plasticizing effect of the DBSA. The morphology of the blends were studied by scanning electron microscopy.
Conducting polymer blends based on styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) triblock copolymer and polyaniline doped with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (Pani.DBSA) were prepared by different procedures: mechanical mixing (MM) and ‘in situ’ polymerization (ISP) methods. The ISP blends exhibited higher levels of electrical conductivity, as compared to MM blends. The scanning electron micrographs of the ISP blend were characterized by the presence of microtubules, which favored the formation of the conducting pathways inside the SBS matrix. From dynamic mechanical and dielectric analysis, it was possible to suggest a higher interaction degree of the polyaniline with the polystyrene phase of the block copolymer. Blends prepared by ISP method displayed also higher dielectric constant and higher dielectric loss factor than blends prepared by MM method.magnified image
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