Resumen

CUPUL, Carlos V; CRUZ, Ricardo H; CABALLERO, Alejandra  y  RANGEL, Luis M. Properties of Extruded Blends Based on Low Density Polyethylene and Polyaniline. Inf. tecnol. [online]. 2008, vol.19, n.2, pp. 69-79. ISSN 0718-0764.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-07642008000200009.

The effect of adding an electro-conducting polyaniline complex (PANIPOL) on the electrical conductivity, the mechanical resistance and the microstructure of polymer composites is studied. The analysis was performed on low density polyethylene-PANIPOL extruded blends, with different conducting filler contents. The filament-like composites were produced by capillary extrusion. The volume conductivity was calculated from the electrical resistance, which was measured with an electrometer. The mechanical resistance was evaluated with a universal testing machine, and the microstructure was observed by means of scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that the conductivity increases, whereas the breaking tenacity decreases with the PANIPOL content. The PANIPOL microstructure was observed to be in the form of elongated structures in some extruded blends. It is concluded that it is possible to obtain polymer composites with adequate mechanical strength and conductivities within the range of those of antistatic materials using low PANIPOL contents.

Palabras clave : electro-conducting materials; polymers; polyaniline; mechanical resistance.