PREPARATION OF POLYPYRROLE POLYURETHANE COMPOSITE FOAM BY VAPOR-PHASE OXIDATIVE POLYMERIZATION

Conductive polypyrrole-polyurethane composite foam was prepared by vapor phase polymerization of pyrrole on polyurethane foam using mixtures of FeCl2 and FeCl3 as oxidants. With increase in the FeCl2/FeCl3 ratio, the conductivity of the composite foam increased in spite of the decrease in polypyrrole content in the composite foam. Both conductivity and polypyrrole content increased with increase in the oxidant content in polyurethane. The conductivity of the composite foam is also a function of reaction temperature, and lower reaction temperatures were preferable for higher conductivity. The composite foam exhibited tensile strength and elongation comparable to those of pristine polyurethane foam. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.