Melt‐processed polyaniline nanofibers/LDPE/EAA conducting composites

Abstract The melt‐processable polyaniline nanofibers doped with superfluous dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (PANI‐DBSA) were synthesized using the interfacial polymerization and thermal doping technique. Conducting composites composed of PANI‐DBSA nanofibers, low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), and ethylene‐acrylic acid copolymer (EAA) as compatibilizer were prepared by melt processing. The effects of PANI‐DBSA nanofibers on the electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties, and morphological structure of the composites were investigated. As a result, the conducting composites had lower percolation threshold (4 wt%) due to the easy formation of conducting paths for fibrillar‐like PANI‐DBSA in the LDPE matrix, which was also confirmed by the frequency dependence of the real part of the AC conductivity. The Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated that the PANI‐DBSA nanofibers were dispersed uniformly in the matrix. The mechanical properties of the composites were improved at the low PANI‐DBSA load (about 1 wt%), but they were deteriorated at high PANI‐DBSA content. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers