POLY(VINYL METHYL-ETHER) STABILIZED COLLOIDAL POLYANILINE DISPERSIONS

A polyaniline (PANI) dispersion in aqueous or aqueous organic medium has been prepared by polymerizing aniline oxidatively using poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) as the stabilizer. The particles have been characterized with respect to their PVME content, extent of doping, the particle size, and specific conductivity. The specific conductivity of the particles in the pressed pellet form ranged between 0.002 and 3.7 S cm(-1) depending on synthetic conditions. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the particles are oblong. This shape appears to result from the association of two grown-up spherical particles followed by their further growth by way of filling the valley across the region of contact. The UV-visible absorption spectra of the redispersions have been discussed.