Electrical and mechanical properties of pre-localized polypyrrole/poly(vinyl chloride) conductive composites

A novel process for preparation of conductive polypyrrole/poly(vinyl chloride) (PPy/PVC) composites by pre-localization of an intrinsically conducting PPy phase in a PVC matrix has been developed. This process involves encapsulating PVC particles with a thin layer of PPy, and subsequently compacting this PPy-encapsulated PVC powder by compression molding. The current-voltage characteristics and electrical conductivity of the pre-localized PPy/PVC composites were determined. The change of the current-voltage characteristics from linear to nonlinear behavior with increasing PPy content in the composites is discussed in the view of the intermolecular hopping and tunneling of electrons. The tensile properties, dynamic mechanical behavior, and microhardness of the pre-localized PPy/PVC composites were studied as a function of PPy content. A percolation threshold of 0.3 wt% is achieved in the pre-localized PPy/PVC composites. This value is much lower than those of the conventional conductive composite materials containing a random distribution of PPy fillers. The samples with a PPy content of 1.6 wt% or above have high conductivity and still preserve reasonable mechanical properties.