Synthesis of novel conducting elastomers as polyaniline-interpenetrated networks of fullerenol-polyurethanes

A processing technique for fabrication of conductive elastomers was demonstrated involving in situ polymerization of aniline at the near-surface region of the fullerenol crosslinked poly(urethane-ether) networks. The synthetic chemistry led to a thin layer (roughly 20 μm in thickness) of conductive polyanilines interpenetrated inside the elastomer matrix. This IPN network exhibited an appreciable conductivity along the doped polyaniline layer without deteriorating much the elasticity and tensile strength of the parent supporting elastomer. As a result, its r.t. conductivity was found to be 2.6 Scm^-1 which increased to 5.4 Scm^-1 at 430% elongation of the polymer film. The data represented the strain-dependent electronic properties of conducting elastomers, showing an increase of conductivity even after the elastomer being stretched above a length as much as 500% of its original size.