Structural, Electrical and Thermal Properties of Composites Based on Conducting Polymer

Abstract

In this work, we report the structural, thermal and electrical properties of
composites consisting of polypyrrole particles in a polymethylmethacrylate matrix.
Electrical resistivity analysis of these percolating composites showed a remarkable change
in the conduction mechanisms below and above the percolation threshold. Structural
properties were studied using X-ray diffraction, showing increases in the crystallinity index
for filler concentrations above the critical percolation. Thermogravimetric analysis was
used to study thermal degradation. It shows a transition from a single peak for
concentrations below the percolation threshold to a double peak for concentrations above
that point. The increase in the degradation temperature with the concentration of
polypyrrole indicates the increase of thermal stability.

Keywords: Conducting polymer, Percolation threshold, Crystallinity, Thermal degradation,
X-Ray diffraction.