POLY(PARA-PHENYLENETEREPHTHALAMIDO)PROPANESULFONATE) - A NEW POLYELECTROLYTE FOR APPLICATION TO CONDUCTING MOLECULAR COMPOSITES

A new water-soluble polyelectrolyte has been synthesized by the alkylsulfonation of the aramid poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) (PPTA) to form poly((p-phenyleneterephthalamido)propane-sulfonate) (PPTA-PS). This polyelectrolyte is soluble in water to greater than 18% by weight when the aramid is alkylsulfonated to 66%. Characterization and structural analysis of the polyelectrolyte were facilitated by a13C NMR study of the model compound benzanilide and its alkyl and alkyanesulfonate derivatives, as well as of an alkyl derivative of PPTA. The preparation of a molecular level composite of polypyrrole and PPTA-PS has been pursued by electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole using PPTA-PS as both the electrolyte and the polymeric dopant ion. The composite materials exhibit conductivites of 1 Ω-1 cm-1 and improved thermal stabilities when compared to poly(pyrrolyl tosylate). © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.