Electrically conductive textiles by in situ polymerization of aniline

Abstract

Two methods of obtaining electrically conductive fabrics by in situ polymerization of aniline were compared. Conductive fabrics were prepared by immersing the nylon 6 fabrics in 100% aniline or an aqueous hydrochloride solution of aniline followed by initiating successive polymerization in a separate bath (DPSB) or in a mixed bath (DPMB) of oxidant and dopant solution with aniline. In each case, the polymerization conditions were optimized to obtain the maximum quality of polyaniline (PAn) on the fabrics. The higher conductivity of composite fabrics, whose value reached up to 0.6 x 10(-1) s/cm, was obtained by the DPMB process. Moreover, this method induced the least decrease in the degree of crystallinity as compared to the DPSB process. The serviceability of the PAn-nylon 6 composite fabrics was also evaluated. No significant changes in the conductivity were observed after abrading the composite fabrics over 50 cycles and multiple acid and alkali treatment. The stability of conductivity was slightly decreased by less than 1 order after exposure to light for 100 h, but it was significantly decreased after washing with detergent. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.