Polypyrrole Polymer-clay nanocomposites

J.-M. Yeh, C.-P. Chin and S. Chang, Enhanced corrosion protection coatings prepared from soluble electronically conductive polypyrrole-clay nanocomposite material, J. Appl. Polym. Sci, 88, 3264-3272 (2003). 

Yeh J. M., Chin C. P. and Chang S. (2003), Enhanced Corrosion Protection Coatings Prepared from Soluble Electronically Conductive Polypyrrole-clay Nanocomposite Materials. JAppl Polym Sci, 88, 3264-72. 

Intercalation of electroactive polymers such as polyaniline and polypyrrole in mica-type layered silicates leads to metal-insulator nanocomposites. The conductivity of these nanocomposites in the form of films is highly anisotropic, with the in-plane conductivity 10 to 10 times higher than the conductivity in the direction perpendicular to the film. Conductive polymer/oxide bronze nanocomposites have been prepared by intercalating polythiophene in V2O5 layered phase, which is analogous to clays. °° Studies of these composites are expected not only to provide a fundamental understanding of the conduction mechanism in the polymers, but also to lead to diverse electrical and optical properties. 

An alternative to in situ polymerization involves direct intercalation of macromolecules into layered structures. Silicates are most often used. The insertion of polymer molecules into layered host lattices is of interest from different points of view. First, this insertion process leads to the construction of organic-inorganic polylayered composites. Second, the intercalation physical chemistry by itself and the role intercalation plays in the gain of electronic conductivity are of interest. This becomes important in the construction of reversible electrodes " or when improving the physicomechanical properties of nylon-layered silicate nanocomposites, hybrid epoxide clay composites," and nanomaterials based on hectorite and polyaniline, polythiophene or polypyrrole. ... 

In addition to the synthesis of latexes with high solids content and small particle size, in the past decade, microemulsion polymerization has heen used to synthesize a wide range of materials. For instance, several works have incorporated inorganic materials such as carhon nanotuhes, " ZnO nanoparticles (UV absorption),montmorillonite clay, " and quantum dots (luminescence probes) " to produce nanocomposites. Furthermore, nanogels, " conductive polypyrrole and polyaniline latexes, " " polyurethanes using immiscible monomers, and polymers in water-in-scC02 microemulsions have been also prepared by microemulsion polymerization. 

---