Thermal stability and glass transition behavior of PANI/α-Al2O3 composites

Polyaniline/α-Al2O3 (PANI/α-Al2O3) composites were synthesized by in situ polymerization through ammonium persulfate ((NH4)2S2O8, APS) oxidized aniline using HCl as dopant. XRD and FTIR were used to characterize the PANI/α-Al2O3 composites. The thermal stabilities and glass transition temperature (Tg) of PANI/α-Al2O3 composites were tested using thermogravimetric (TG) method and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) technique. The results of TG showed that the thermal stability of PANI/α-Al2O3 composite increased and then decreased with the increase in α-Al2O3 content. The derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) curves showed one step degradation of PANI when the α-Al2O3 content was lower than 52.5 mass%, and exhibited two steps degradation when the α-Al2O3 content was higher than 63.6 mass%. The MDSC curves showed that the Tg of PANI/α-Al2O3 composites increased and then decreased with the augment of α-Al2O3 for the interaction between PANI chains and the surface of α-Al2O3.