Structure-property relationship in aliphatic polyamide/polyaniline surface layered composites

Conducting polymer composite films based on different aliphatic polyamides (PA) (PA-6, PA-11 and PA-12) have been synthesized by in situ aniline polymerization inside a surface layer of the PA host matrix. Dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss of these films are explained in terms of the interfacial polarization. The real part of permittivity is found to be higher in the PA/polyaniline (PANI) composite films than in the virgin PA polymer matrix. Such behaviour is attributed to the interaction between PA and PANI molecular chains and to the conductivity increase after the aniline polymerization. The performed confocal Raman spectrometry and X-ray diffraction studies also confirmed the presence of interactions between PA and PANI molecular chains. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.