Electrically conductive polymer blends

These conjugated polymers can be p-doped (partially oxidized) with common acids (HCl, HBr) and Lewis acids (AsF, BF, I ) or n-doped (partially reduced) with alkali metals (Li, K, Na). 

PET/PHB60 PC, PS, PET Thermal, Dielectric, Rheology, Mechanical Zhuang et al., 1988 

LCP2000 PET Mechanical, Thermal, Rheology, WAXS Ko and Wilkes, 1989 

Vectra RD500 PC Thermal, Rheology, Morphology, Kohli et al., 1989 

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Extrusion of Polymer-1 containing monomer of Polymer-2, followed by post reaction to Polymer 2 (polyimides, electrically conductive polymer blends, reactive blends, e.g., with crosslinked elastomers), etc. 

Most polymers have high electrical resistivity, are inexpensive in comparison to other known insulating materials are heat resistant and sufficiently durable. Owing to their sensitivity to oxidation and solvents, they are frequentiy blended to generate better electrical insulating alloys. In the past two decades, there has been serious elfort to modify the electrical properties of polymers and their blends. The electrically conductive polymers can be broadly categorized as (i) electrostatic dissipating polymeric compositions, and (ii) electrically conductive polymer blends. Utracki has reviewed evolution of these materials [Utracki, 1998]. 

Electrically conducting polymer blends are also produced by blending another conducting polymer e.g., poly-3-octyl thiophene) with a matrix polymer e.g., PP, PVC, PS, PE, EVAc, PVC/ABS etc.) introducing a dopant e.g., iodine) [Kokkonen et al., 1994]. Several strategies were adopted in preparing ECPBs. In one example, polyaniline was blended with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, mixed with PS, PE or PP and then melt processed. In another case, polyaniline was mixed with protoning acid metallic salt. The conductive material was melt mixed with PE, PS, PP or ABS [Kama et al, 1994 a b]. 

The subject of polymer blends has been one of the primary areas in polymer science and technology over the past several decades. Judging from publications, patents, major university programs, Ph.D. thesis topics, it continues to maintain significant importance. This will continue, as there are a number of unsolved problems and opportunities. As new areas of interest develop in polymer science, polymer blend technology often becomes an important segment (e.g., electrically conducting polymer blends). 

As a synthetic strategy, simple and versatile reactive blending will continue to play a pivotal role in the development of newer materials. For example, the blending technique is being used to produce bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells (polymer/fullerene) and to develop electrically conductive polymer blends using electrically conductive fillers and additives (Huang and Kipouras 2012). 

Foster, M., private conversations, Physical Optics Corporation, Torrance, CA, 1995. Passiniemi, R, Laakso, J., Ruohonen, H., and Vakiparta, K., Electrically conducting polymer blends based on polyaniline, in Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings on Electrical, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Organic Solid State Materials III, Vol. 413, 1996, p. 577. 

Processing with an environmentally benign supercritical fluid, such as carbon dioxide, is an attractive alternative to conventional processing of electrically conducting polymer blends. The advantages of supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent for polymerization and blend formation have been outlined by many investigators (30,31). Carbon dioxide is inexpensive, nonflammable, offers high mass transport rates, and allows in situ removal of unreacted monomer and other impurities. It is also known to swell host polymers (32), which facilitates blend formation. 

KF Webb, J KowaUk, L Tolbert, AS Teja. The formation of electrically conducting polymer blends in supercritical carbon dioxide (to be published). 

Polymer blend composites Electrically conducting polymer blends... 

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