Conductive elastomeric foams by in-situ vapor phase polymerization of pyrroles

摘要

A conductive elastomeric foam composite is presented, comprising an elastomer foam and polypyrrole, thiophene, or aniline and derivatives thereof. The foam is manufactured by first diffusing an oxidant into the dense polymer phase of a solvent-swollen foam and then diffusing pyrrole or pyrrole derivative vapor or solution into the dried foam, resulting in an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole at the oxidant site. Only about 5 wt % of conductive polymer is required for observing an insulator to conductor transition. The conductivity of the composite foam can be effectively controlled between 10^−7 and 10^−1 S/cm by varying either the amount of oxidant used and/or the copolymer composition.