Facile Synthesis and Properties of Multilayered Polyaniline/Polypyrrole/Epoxy/Polystyrene/Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Composites

Abstract

Single and multilayered nanocomposites of polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPy), Epoxy, polystyrene (PS) and functionalized carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have been synthesized as PANI/MWCNTs, PPy/MWCNTs, Epoxy/MWCNTs, PS/MWCNTs, PANI/PPy/MWCNTs, PANI/PPy/Epoxy/MWCNTs and PANI/PPy/Epoxy/PS/MWCNTs. Layering of matrices on filler surface through layer-by-layer oxidative polymerization was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. According to SEM, doubly layered PANI/PPy/MWCNTs revealed finely dispersed granular layer of polypyrrole over the surface of polyaniline. Thermogravimetric analysis of multilayered PANI/PPy/Epoxy/PS/MWCNTs showed degradation at enhanced temperature 400–750°C and char yield 45% at 900°C. Improvement in glass transition of layered material was observed from 275°C (PANI/PPyMWCNTs) −354°C (PANI/PPy/Epoxy/PS/MWCNTs).

Keywords:

• Layer-by-layer oxidative polymerization
• Multilayered nanocomposites
• Thermal stability
• Transmission electron microscopy

Notes

Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/lpte.

Syed Tajammul Hussain, Director, Nanosciences and Catalysis Division, Deceased July 2013.