Synthesis and Characterization of Montmorillonite/Polypyrrole Nanocomposite

A novel montmorillonite (MMT)/polypyrrole (PPy) nano-composite (MPN) with high electrical conductivity and thermal stability has been synthesized via in-situ polymerization. The surface morphology, characterization, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity have been tested by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and four-probe methods, respectively. SEM results show that the antenna-like PPy deposits on the layer surface of MMT. FTIR and XRD analyses show that there is interaction between MMT and PPy. The nanocomposite has high electrical conductivity (4 S/cm), eight orders of magnitude higher than that of pristine MMT. The thermal stability of MPN is higher than the pure PPy as well as the mixture of MMT and PPy (MMP). POLYM. COMPOS., 30:66-69, 2009. (C) 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers