Polyaniline-Coated Short Nylon Fiber/Natural Rubber Conducting Composite

Abstract

Natural rubber-Polyaniline (PANI)-Polyaniline coated short nylon-6 fiber (PANI-N6) composites were prepared by mechanical mixing and its cure characteristics, filler dispersion, mechanical properties, conductivity and thermal stability were evaluated. PANI was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline in presence of hydrochloric acid. PANI-N6 was prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of short nylon-6 fiber. The composite showed higher tensile strength, tear strength and modulus values and lower elongation at break. The DC electrical conductivity and the thermal stability of the composites increased with PANI and PANI-N6 concentration. The highest conductivity obtained was 1.99 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm.

Keywords:

• Composites
• Conducting polymers
• Fibers
• Mechanical properties
• Rubber

Notes

*Parts per hundred rubber.

^#PANI-coated nylon-6 fiber.

Stearic acid −1 phr and DCP-3 phr are common to all mixes.

Present address for Saritha Chandran A.: Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam, Kerala, India - 682 011. E-mail: [email protected]