Fabrication and thermal degradation behavior of poly(vinyl chloride) particle coated with polythiophene and polyaniline

Nanocomposites of polythiophene and polyaniline with poly(vinyl chloride) (PTh/PVC and PAn/PVC) were prepared successfully in aqueous media in the presence of different surfactants such as hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). PVC particles were coated with PAn and PTh by using chemical oxidative polymerization method. These core–shell nanocomposites were characterized such as morphology, chemical structure and thermal stability by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) respectively. FTIR spectrum analysis confirmed that the nanocomposite was formed in present of surfactant. TGA curves revealed that presence of surfactant can drastically increase the thermal stability of PAn/PVC and PTh/PVC nanocomposites.

► The PAn and PTh can be uniformly coated on the surface of PVC particles.
► The core–shell structure of nanocomposites was confirmed by SEM.
► Surfactant had an effect on morphology and thermal stability of nanocomposites.
► Surfactant can increase the thermal stability of nanocomposites.
► PVA has better effect on morphology and thermal stability of nanocomposites.