Effect of dopant mixture on the conductivity and thermal stability of polyaniline/nomex conductive fabric

Electrically conductive polyaniline (PANI)/[poly( m ‐phenylene isophthalamide)] Nomex composite fabric was prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline doped by a mixture of hydrochloride (HCl) and various sulfonic acids such as benzenesulfonic acid (BSA), sulfosalicylic acid (SSA), and dodecylbenesulfonic acid (DBSA); their effect on conductivity and physical properties were then investigated. PANI/Nomex composite fabrics doped by a mixture of protonic acids exhibited higher conductivity than those doped by other single dopants such as camphorsulfonic acid (CSA), p ‐toluenesulfonic acid (TSA), BSA, SSA, and HCl. The conductivity of PANI/Nomex fabrics especially doped by a mixture of HCl and DBSA was evenly maintained up to 100°C without depression of mechanical properties of Nomex. Their conductivity was also maintained under extension of the composite fabric. In addition, electrical conductivity of PANI/Nomex fabrics was highly increased by ultrasonic treatment, which facilitated better diffusion and adsorption of aniline by cavitation and vibration. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2245–2254, 2002