An elastomeric conductor based on polyaniline prepared by mechanical mixing

In this work we describe the conditions of preparation and the electrical, mechanical, thermal and morphological characteristics of a conductive blend prepared by combining the elastomer poly(ethylene-co-propylene-co-diene-monomer) and polyaniline doped with p-toluene sulfonic acid. Polymer mixtures were prepared in a mixer chamber (cam rotors) coupled to a rheometer. A higher mixing temperature improves the homogeneity of the mixtures, as seen by an increase in conductivity and in crosslinking efficiency. In spite of the good homogeneity, the mixtures are imiscible. Therefore, the formation of bonds between the high molar mass chains of polyaniline and the oligomers explain the increase of the conductivity with an increase in polyaniline content. The modulus values also increase by adding polyaniline to the rubber suggesting a reinforcement effect. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.