Studies on the microwave conductivity of polyaniline-polyvinyl chloride composites

Polyaniline/polyvinyl chloride semi-interpenetrating polymer networks were prepared by the chemical oxidative polymerisation of aniline using ammonium persulphate as initiator in the presence of emulsion-grade polyvinyl chloride. The polymerisation was carried out for about 4 h at room temperature. It was then dried under different conditions (room temperature drying, vacuum drying and oven drying). The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant, conductivity, dielectric loss, dielectric heating coefficient and loss tangent were measured using the cavity perturbation technique. Cavity operating at S band was used for the study. The dielectric properties were found to depend on both the frequency and the composition of the mix (polyaniline-polyvinyl chloride). (C) 2003 IoM Communications Ltd. Published by Maney for the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.