Preparation and characterization of polyaniline blends with polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride for toxic gas sensors

The conditions of processing and gas sensing of polyaniline (PANi) blends with polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were investigated. Flexible, free-standing and stretchable films of various blends compositions were obtained by casting. The mechanisms of the conducting blends response to a selection of gases and vapours were investigated using two techniques: measurement of conductance and mass changes using a four-point probe method and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) device, respectively. These responses to toxic gases and vapours are better explained by polymer blends than homopolymers. Prepared films were exposed to hydrogen halides, hydrogen cyanide, halogens, monochloroacetic acid (MCAA), 1-3-5 trichloromethyl benzene (TCMB), methylbenzyl bromide (MBB), bromoacetone (BA) and cyanogen bromide (CB). The changes in conductivity of various polymer frequently observed are partly due to one stage in the two-stage sorption perhaps involving the swelling of the polymer and then diffusion of gases into polymer chains. The swelling of polymers is a slow process, therefore, we have pre-swelled polymer films which tend to decrease the response times of blends in respect to gases. The structures of the blends are examined by STA (TGA & DSC) and SEM studies. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons. Ltd.