Antistatic coating and electromagnetic shielding properties of a hybrid material based on polyaniline/organoclay nanocomposite and EPDM rubber

Thermal, mechanical, electrical and microwave radiation absorbing properties of conductive composites based on dodecylbenzenesulfonate doped polyaniline/organoclay nanocomposites and propylene–ethylidene–norbornene rubber have been investigated with special interest on the effect of the nanocomposite concentration. Composites were prepared by melt blending using an internal mixer. Morphology studies by scanning electron microscopy of cryofractured surfaces indicated that the conducting nanocomposites produced heterogeneously distributed aggregates in the continuous elastomeric matrix. The composites exhibit high conductivities, up to 10−3 S cm−1 for 40 wt.% of conducting nanocomposite, and good mechanical properties. They also present high microwave attenuation values, in the frequency range of 8–12 GHz. This property depends on the concentration of the conductive nanocomposite and on the film thickness. The composites can be used for antistatic coatings or for electromagnetic shielding.