Dielectric Behavior of Polyaniline/Polyvinyl Chloride/Nylon Fiber Composites at Microwave Frequencies

Abstract

Polyaniline(PANI)/polyvinyl chloride(PVC)/nylon fiber composites were prepared by the chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline using ammonium persulphate initiator by the in situ technique. The composites were then cast into films and doped with hydrochloric acid. The dielectric properties were investigated using the cavity perturbation technique at room temperature. A rectangular cavity operating at S-band (2.4 GHz) was used. The dielectric properties were found to vary with frequency and composition of the composites. Better dielectric properties were obtained at a PVC:PANI:fiber proportion of 1:1:0.05 and at 2.4 GHz. The tensile strength of the composites was also improved.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author would like to thank Dr. K. T. Mathew, Professor, Department of Electronics, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, India for allowing to use the network analyzer and to Mr. Robin Augstine, Department of Electronics, Cochin University of Science and Techonology for helping with the measurements.