Conducting semi-interpenetrating polymer network of polypyrrole with poly(esteramide urethane) synthesized from a sustainable resource

Semi-interpenetrating polymer networks of polypyrrole with poly(esteramide urethane) (CPEAU) synthesized from a sustainable resource, (coconut oil) is being reported for the first time. The semi-IPNs were prepared via chemical polymerization by immersing FeCl3 impregnated CPEAU films in a aqueous pyrrole solution for different time periods. CPEAU-Py semi-IPN films were found to be flexible, stiff, and having satisfactory conductivity when they were prepared by soaking in FeCl3 up to 4 h. Soaking for higher periods led to the deformation of films. Soaking for less than 2 h in FeCl3 resulted into poor polymerization of polypyrrole producing films of poor conductivity. Water uptake resulted in swelling of the films of pure CPEAU and was found to be maximum up to 10 wt%. Water uptake in the FeCl3 impregnated CPEAU films decreased with the increase in the impregnation time and fell up to 5 wt% of FeCl3 impregnated films. Conductivity of the semi-IPN films was found to be in the semi-conducting range 2.9 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) - 6.8 x 10(-6) S cm(-1) which happened to be higher than the conductivity values of the reported composites of poly(urethane)/polypyrrole. The semi-IPN formation was further investigated by FT-IR, thermal, and SEM analysis.