Characterization of electrochemically deposited polyaniline–polypyrrole blend coatings on carbon fibers

Abstract

Macroscopically homogeneous and uniform coatings of polyaniline, polypyrrole and their blend were successfully deposited on carbon fibers by aqueous electropolymerization technique. Electrochemical polymerization of aniline and pyrrole blend with p-toluene sulfonic acid as the electrolyte was carried out by cyclic voltammetry in the potential range of -0.2 V to 1.0 V vs. SCE. The electrochemical polymerization parameters such as the molar feed ratio of monomers and number of cycles were systematically varied. Gravimetric analysis showed that the amount of blend coatings on carbon fibers was dependant on the electrochemical deposition parameters. As the pyrrole concentration in the feed increases, the deposition rate increases. Analysis of the blend coating on the carbon fibers by infrared spectrophotometry (IR) showed that both polyaniline and polypyrrole are present in the coating. The morphology of composite coating varied from smooth to rough and globular structure during deposition.

Keywords:

• POLYANILINE
• POLYPYRROLE
• CARBON FIBERS
• ELECTROPOLYMERIZATION
• CYCLIC VOLTAMMETRY
• SURFACE MORPHOLOGY