Preparation of Conducting Polyaniline/Nylon 6 Blend Fibre by Wet Spinning Technique

Conducting polymers have been widely investigated for both academic and industrial purposes over two decades. Polyaniline (PANI), a member of the intrinsically conducting polymer family was blended with Nylon 6 in concentrated formic acid. Conducting fibres were spun from the blend solution by wet spinning method. In this process the solvent is replaced by non-solvent and consequently the polymer is precipitated. Qualitative studies were carried out on the effect of coagulation bath. Coagulation bath containing 7.5% w/w Li2SO4 has improved mechanical properties of the fibres. The electrical resistance of fibres containing 5-25% w/w of PANI, varies between 0.665 to 0.015 MΩ.cm-1. It was found that the electrical resistance of fibres depends on their moisture content. Cyclic voltammetric studies were carried out in -350 to 1000 mV vs.Ag/AgCl. These studies showed that PANI/nylon 6 fibres were electroactive. Further more fibre containing 25% w/w of PANI has high electroactivity stability.