Porous palygorskite-polythiophene conductive composites for acrylic coatings

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2013-09, Vol.129 (5), p.2707-2715
• Main Authors: Zuo, Shixiang, Yao, Chao, Liu, Wenjie, Li, Xiazhang, Kong, Yong, Liu, Xiaoheng, Mao, Huihui, Li, Yingruo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; coatings; Composites; conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Iodine; Materials science; palygorskite; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; polythiophene; porosity; Scanning electron microscopy; Surface chemistry; Technology of polymers; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.38995

Modified palygorskite‐polythiophene (MPA‐PTh) composites were prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization of palygorskite (PA) nucleartor with thiophene (Th) after the surface modification with γ‐(2,3‐epoxypropoxy) propytrimethoxysilane (KH‐560). The MPA‐PTh composites were doped in iodine vapor to create the porous palygorskite‐polythiophene (PMPA‐PTh) conductive composites. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method (BET) and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) techniques were applied to characterize the modified PA and the prepared composites. According to FTIR and XPS, the KH‐560 was bound to the PA surface and the iodine ion (I3− and I5−) entered the PTh molecular chains. XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, and EIS analysis confirmed that the doping of iodine not only transform the core–shell MPA‐PTh into the PMPA‐PTh but also improve the electrical conductivity of composites. The PMPA‐PTh composites were fabricated that yield a volume resistivity of ∼2.44 × 102 Ω cm and a internal resistances of ∼100 Ω, and their BET surface area, BJH (Barrett–Joiner–Halenda) average pore size and BJH cumulative pore volume were improved in comparison with those of the MPA‐PTh composites. SEM images showed that the PMPA‐PTh composites could form consecutive space network and the PMPA‐PTh composites acrylic coating films had advisable conductivity. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013