Chemical synthesis and characterization of aniline and o-anthranilic acid copolymer

The chemical co-polymerization of aniline with o-anthranilic acid (AA) to form copolymer films has been made in aqueous hydrochloric acid medium. The copolymer films were monitored by using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique. The effect of AA and its concentrations on the film formation was investigated. The results were justified by measuring the UV–Vis absorption spectra for the in situ copolymer films grown onto glass slides immersed into the polymerization media and the in situ UV–Vis absorption spectra for the copolymer in the bulk during the co-polymerization. The conductivity for the copolymer films and powder pellets at different molar ratios of aniline/AA were measured. Also, the IR spectra, X-ray diffraction and the thermal gravimetric analysis for the copolymer powder formed in the bulk in the absence and presence of AA were measured and discussed. It is found that the presence of AA affects the yield, induction period, depletion time and growth rate of the film formation. It also affects the crystallinity, and conductivity as well as the solubility of the polymer. Finally, the dopant weight fraction (w) associated with the copolymer was determined. It is almost half the value determined for the polymer in absence of AA.