Electrically conductive epoxy resin composites containing polyaniline with different morphologies

Hydrochloric acid-doped polyanilines (PANIs) with different morphologies (particles, fibers and wires) were prepared by the conventional one-phase polymerization and the interfacial polymerization, respectively. Electrically conductive composites consisted of epoxy resin (EP) and these PANIs were synthesized by in situ polymerization. SEM observation showed different morphologies of these PANIs, and FT-IR analysis investigated the chain structures of the PANIs and the corresponding conductive composites. Electrical conductivity test indicated that the conductive composite containing PANI wires had the lowest percolation threshold by comparison of that containing PANI particles or fibers. TEM observation provided useful information for understanding the relationship between the morphologies of PANIs and the electrically conductive properties of EP composites, and the results proved that the morphologies of PANIs were strongly related to the final electrical properties of the EP composites.