Polypyrrole/barium titanate/poly(acrylonitrile-co-methylacrylate)–deposited cotton fabrics: Electromagnetic shielding

In this study, polypyrrole was deposited separately on barium titanate, barium titanate-poly (acrylonitrile-co-methylacrylate) nanocomposite-coated textile fabrics by an in-situ chemical polymerization process. Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness, electrical conductivity, chemical structure, and morphology of fabrics were fully characterized and systematically studied for investigation of individual effects of barium titanate, pyrrole polymer, and barium titanate-poly (acrylonitrile-co-methylacrylate) on obtained fabrics’ conductivity and shielding behaviour. Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the fabrics was determined according to the ASTM D4935-10 protocol, by using a coaxial transmission line measurement technique in the frequency range of 15–3000 MHz. Electrical characteristics were measured by the two-end method. Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness data suggested that polypyrrole-coated fabrics had better electromagnetic shielding effectiveness than polypyrrole-barium titanate and barium titanate-poly (acrylonitrile-co-methylacrylate)-coated fabrics. On the other hand, conductivity increased due to the interaction between polypyrrole and barium titanate-poly (acrylonitrile-co-methylacrylate), with fabric conductivity values also increased with the use of barium titanate. Spectroscopic characterizations of coated fabrics were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Analyses demonstrated that there is a strong interaction between cotton and polypyrrole and barium titanate, and also with poly (acrylonitrile-co-methylacrylate)-barium titanate. Morphological characterizations of the coated fabrics were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Colour measurements of fabric samples were performed for determination of colour intensity as a function of polymerization efficiency.