Processable ICPs

Blends of intrinsically conductive polymers (ICP s) with conventional thermoplastics offered a practical means of processing ICP s without sacrificing conductivity [KuUcarni, et al., 1991]. One of the major use for these blends was electromagnetic interference shielding. 

With the help of similarities and differences between processing of conventional polymers and carbon-blackfilled compounds on one side and processing of ICP on the other side, the need for an integrated chemical, physical, and processing view on ICP is shown. In conclusion, the value of processing ICPs via dispersion into materials of well defined structure and morphology for basic research as well as its emerging industrial use, is pointed out. 

As a result, no mouldable or otherwise processable, ICP raw material was available outside our laboratories for broad-based applications-oriented research, so that application ideas (for which films could not be used) either failed to emerge at all, or were not investigated, or remained confined to the most obvious of fields such as replacement of carbon black in antistatic applications . 

The past years since end of the eighties did not show that these approaches could contribute anything valuable to processing ICPs. 

An alternative approach involves blending of conducting polymers with biomaterials of interest to form biocomposites. This, of course, ideally involves the TCP and biomolecule to be soluble in a compatible solvent that does not denature the biomolecule. Such examples are limited and usually involve polyanilines [26], as they are more postsynthesis processable. ICP polyanilines have, for example, been blended with collagen. Blending of poly(o-ethoxyaniline) and collagen resulted in formation of flexible free-standing semiconducting materials. 

The fabrication of an IPMC is separated into two preparation processes the initial compositing process (ICP) and the surface electroding process (SEP). Shahinpoor and Kim have reported that the different microstructures occur in the two processes a roughened electrode surface forms during the ICP, and the well deposited Pt layer grows during SEP [Shahinpoor and Kim (2001b)]. To ensure the quality of IPMCs, both preparation processes must be conducted. 

Fig. 2.3 Top Cross-sectional scanning electron micrographs of the micromorphology of Pt ionic-polymer metal composites after treatment of the initial compositing process (ICP) (a) and the surface electroding process (SEP) (b). The bottom images show the cross-sectional view of the digital scanning microscope of the Pt IPMCs, where the treatment of ICP is again shown on the left and SEP on the right. Reprinted from [Park et al. (2008)] with permission from Cambridge University Press.

The number of potential applications of ICPs is almost unlimited due to their special features such as light weight, flexibiHty, mechanical properties, and tuneable conductivities that lie between insulators and metaUic conductors [110,111]. However, difficulties with the processabiHty of ICPs has hindered their commercial success. During the past 10 years, a wide variety of processable ICPs has been developed, with some becoming commercially available (Table 6.1). 

G. F. OFFUTT, Safety Analysis Report for the ICPP Electrolytic Dissolution Process, ICP-1009, Allied Chemical Corp.-Idaho Chemical Programs (Apr. 1972). 

The ability to provide more processable ICPs, as described above, enables new approaches to device fabrication, including ink-jet printing (178) and screen printing (179). Photolithography has also been used to produce ICP patterns U80-182), while spin coating has been used to produce thin, even films (183). 

This Pd-catalyzed LiHBEts reduction is applicable to integrated chanical processes (ICPs), which allows integration of alkylation of allylic sulfones and reductive desulfony-lation under mild basic conditions in one pot to prepare various olefins. ... 

Although there is considerable ongoing effort to produce easily processed ICPs from monomers constructed... 

This was a great disadvantage for applications-oriented research and possible applications. We have developed methods that make it possible to process ICP raw material after polymerization, both in pure form and as dispersions in other matrices. 

An alternative to in situ chemical and electrochemical polymerization is the utilization of processable pre-formed polymers. However, ICPs are usually insoluble and not fusible. To overcome these difficulties, processable ICPs can be obtained by proper functionalization of the heterocycle monomers or colloidal dispersions of conducting polymers used (Spinks et al, 2002). 

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