Short fibre reinforced PP/PANI-complex blends and their mechanical and electrical properties

This study deals with the mechanical and electrical properties of polypropylene (PP)/polyaniline (PANI)-complex blends and their short glass fibre (GF) composites. In particular, the surface resistivity, the electrical conductivity and its profile were characterized. Tensile modulus, tensile strength and impact resistance of the materials were also measured as a function of GF- and PANI-complex content. The miscibility and microstructure of the blends could be studied by using light optical and scanning electron microscopy. While a steady increase in tensile modulus with increasing GF content was observed in all material combinations, an improvement in the tensile strength could only be achieved in case of the glass fibre reinforced unmodified PP-matrix composites. The conductivity of the materials increased with increasing PANI-complex content. The low percolation threshold for conductivity could be explained by the formation of a PANI-complex network near the surface of the samples.