Structural and Morphological Characteristics of Polyaniline Synthesized in Pilot Scale

ABSTRACT: Polyanilines have many applications in Aerospace, especially in their doped form. Studies on their synthesis in a pilot scale can contribute to obtain products with desirable characteristics for such applications. The present study reports the chemical oxidative synthesis of polyaniline in pilot scale and different reaction times in order to determine if there are variations in the polyaniline structure, morphology and conductivity due to these synthesis conditions. It is very common to analyze these data for polymers obtained through bench scale. However, several parameters change the properties of final material in major scales, such as thermal, mechanic and diffusive variables. Therefore, the reaction time is the only variable into the 9 syntheses carried out, and polyaniline is obtained in a doped form, being dedoped with ammonium hydroxide and redoped with dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid. The doped and redoped samples were characterized by their molecular structure, thermal behavior, crystallinity and morphology. The electrical conductivity of redoped samples was determined. Some differences in the structure and morphology of doped and dedoped forms, identifying the doping structures, were reported. This paper aims to present the relationship between changes on structure and morphology of doped and undoped polyaniline obtained by the mentioned experiments. Furthermore, some addicts on conductivity are carried out. It was possible to contribute in order to obtain a more conductive polyaniline in pilot scale.