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Formation of transparent conducting films based on core‐shell latices: Influence of the polypyrrole shell thickness
Author(s) -
Huijs F. M.,
Lang J.,
Kalicharan D.,
Vercauteren F. F.,
Van Der Want J. J. L.,
Hadziioannou G.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4628(20010131)79:5<900::aid-app140>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - polypyrrole , materials science , composite material , antistatic agent , transmission electron microscopy , methacrylate , annealing (glass) , polymer chemistry , shell (structure) , conductive polymer , chemical engineering , copolymer , polymerization , nanotechnology , polymer , layer (electronics) , engineering
Transparent conducting latex films have been prepared from core‐shell latices. The latex particles have a poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) core of about 700 nm and a very thin polypyrrole (PPy) shell. We have studied the film formation of latices with 1, 2, and 4 wt % PPy and compared this with the film formation of the pure PBMA latex. The film formation process was studied by transparency measurements, atomic force microscopy surface flattening, and transmission electron microscopy on ultrathin sections of films after various annealing times at 120°C. It is demonstrated that highly transparent (>90%) and antistatic films can be produced using these latices. The presence of a polypyrrole shell around the PBMA latex particle seriously hinders the deformation of the particles. The amount of polypyrrole, and thus the shell thickness, is the determining factor for the speed of film formation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 900–909, 2001