Electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of polyaniline-epoxy novolac composite materials

Epoxy-novolac resin was mixed with different amounts of polyaniline-hydrochloride (PANI) salt and cured with amine hardener. The cured PANI-epoxy composites were characterized by electrical properties viz., conductivity, dielectric constant and dissipation factor; mechanical properties like tensile and impact strength and thermal methods such as TGA, DSC and TMA. PANI has no effect on curing the epoxy resin and curing occurs upto 20% addition of PANI and above 20% addition curing did not occur. Conductivity of the cured composites gradually increased with the addition of PANI. Mechanical strength of the 20% PANI-epoxy composite is slightly decreased when compared to the cured neat resin. Both cured resin and 20% PANI-epoxy composites are stable upto 325 degreesC.