Synthesis of polyaniline/camphor sulfonic acid in formic acid medium and their blends with polyamide-6 by in situ polymerization

Blends of polyaniline doped with camphor sulfonic acid (PAni.CSA) and polyamide 6 (PA6) were prepared for the first time by the in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of a solution of PA6 in formic acid. The conductivity values of the blends prepared by both solution cast and in situ polymerization are in the range useful for electrostatic charge dissipation materials. The conductivity of the blend containing 10% of PAni.CSA was higher, when the in situ polymerization process was used, indicating the formation of conducting pathways in a higher extension. Most of the blends prepared by the in situ polymerization presented only one irreversible peak in the cyclic voltammetry, which is attributed to the presence of defects along the PAni.CSA chains. These defects may be caused by the presence of formic acid as the solvent, as observed by Fourier transformer infrared spectroscopy of the pure polyaniline prepared in the presence of formic acid.