Providing conductive properties to polyolefins; examining their thermal and mechanical properties

Blends of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) and conductive polyaniline (PANI) were prepared in order to impart antistatic properties to polyethylene, which is one of the most important materials widely used today. For the preparation of the blends, first of all, polyaniline was synthesized by oxidative polymerization method using ammonium peroxydisulfate and 1M HCl at 0oC. The obtained green powdered PANI was characterized by techniques such as FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and thermal analysis. Polyaniline added LDPE and HDPE blends were prepared by solution blending method. LDPE was dissolved in toluene in a magnetic stirrer at 80oC, and polyaniline was dissolved in NMP in an ultrasonic bath. PANI/LDPE blends were obtained by adding different ratios of polyaniline to LDPE solution. The interaction between PANI and LDPE was then characterized by FTIR, DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), TGA (Thermogravimetric Analyzer), DMA (Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and XRD techniques. The conductivities of PANI/LDPE blends were determined to be in the range of 10−6- 10−9 S.cm−1. When the antistatic decay times were examined, it was seen that all blends could provide ESD protection at 3 kV corona voltage. In addition, it was observed that LDPE blend, doped with 3 wt% polyaniline could also provide ESD (Electrostatic Charge Dissipation) protection at -3 kV and 6 kV corona voltages. HDPE was dissolved in p-xylene in a magnetic stirrer at 100oC, and polyaniline was dissolved in NMP in an ultrasonic bath. PANI/HDPE blends were obtained by adding different ratios of polyaniline to the HDPE solution. The interaction between PANI and HDPE was then characterized by FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMA, SEM and XRD techniques. The conductivities of PANI/HDPE blends were determined to be in the range of 10−7- 10−10 S.cm−1. When the the antistatic decay times are examined, it was seen that all blends could provide ESD protection at 3 kV corona voltage.