Preparation of polystyrene/polyaniline core/shell structured particles and their epoxy-based conductive composites

Polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline (ANI) in the presence of sulfonated crosslinked polystyrene (SCPS) particles in neutral water. The polymerization of ANI occurred preferentially on the surfaces of the SCPS particles, resulting in core/ shell structured SCPS/PANI particles. The conductivities of the SCPS/ PANI particles increased with increasing degree of sulfonation of the SCPS and with increasing ANI/SCPS weight ratios in the reactants. Conductive epoxy-based composites were prepared by curing the blend of SCPS/PANI particles and epoxy resin with an aromatic amine curing reagent, indicating the core/shell structured particles were stable, to some extent, to alkaline environments, which will be of significant importance for the practical application of PANI in many cases.