This book is a collection of papers by individuals in industry and academia on research and application development of conductive polymers and plastics. Conductive plastics are positioned to play an increasingly important role in affairs of mankind, specifically in the area of electrical and electronic conductivity. While general knowledge about conductive polymers and plastics has been available for many years, a true understanding of their application has only taken place in the last 3 to 4 years. This is attributed to advances in materials and processing techniques. Engineers have only begun to explore the design freedom and economic benefits of specifying conductive polymers and plastics in industrial and business applications.This book is a key reference and guide to the use of conductive polymers and plastics. It is a summary of existing technologies, but also a look at future possibilities.

Those who recognize that our modern life style is dependent, to a large extent, on the use of organic polymers as thermal and elec trical insulators, may be surprised to learn that specific plastics may also be used as conductors of electricity. In addition to demon strating the versatility of polymers, this use as conductors will lead to developments which were not possible with other available materials of construction. This is a new field which is growing rapidly because of intensive research and developmental efforts by many different industrial, governmental and university investigators. Many of these researchers reported advances in this art at a symposium on conductive polymers sponsored by the American Chemical Society's Division of Organic Coatings and Plastics Chemistry held at the Second Chemical Congress of the North American Continent at Las Vegas, in August 1980. The proceedings of this timely symposium are presented in this book. The editor wishes to take this opportunity to express his grati tude to the authors who contributed to this book and to the ACS Organic Coatings and Plastics Division for sponsoring this effort. Raymond B. Seymour Department of Polymer Science University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS 39401 v CONTENTS 1 New Horizons in Conductive Polymers Raymond B. Seymour Synthesis and Characterization of Conductive 7 Palladium Containing Polyimide Films • T.L. Wohlford. J. Schaff. L.T. Taylor.

This book is derived from the findings of an EU-funded project.Tthe objective of the project was to develop conductive plastic composites that are eco-friendly, cost effective and of high added value. This was achieved through an ambitious multidisciplinary approach developing new, radically innovative, knowledge-based and sustainable products for protection against the effects of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electrostatic discharge (ESD). Research was based on the compounding of engineering polymers and inherently conductive polymers (ICP) with improved conductivity, or hybrid systems of ICP with conductive nanotubes and other fibrous conductors. Innovative processing technologies specifically tailored to the new materials were also developed. the project aimed to dramatically extend the current performance and processability of ICP and alternative materials to enable significant replacement of metals in EMI shielding and ESD protection applications. This book will benefit plastics converters who wish to take full advantage of the potential of conductive plastic materials.

The pioneering work by Nobel Prize Laureates Heeger, MacDiarmid, and Shirakawa marked the birth of conductive polymers, a new family of revolutionary organic materials at the boundaries between classic plastics, metals, and semiconductors. Since then, a host of chemically diverse conducting polymeric structures has been devised with fascinating optical, electrical, magnetic, and redox properties that can be tuned using easy chemical/electrochemical doping. In recent decades, the combination and blend of conductive polymers with other materials families (e.g., carbon nanomaterials, metal nanoparticles or oxide nanostructures, common polymers, and resins) fostered the advent of a new generation of hybrid multifunctional composites with enhanced properties and high potential for present and near-future everyday life applications, ranging from photovoltaics, OLEDs, smart windows and garments, plastic batteries for sensors, and intelligent actuators. In this book, we compile some of the latest advances in the field, covering both old issues and new examples emphasizing emerging applications in biomedical science, healthcare, separation science, and water pollution abatement.

The Fourth Edition of the Handbook of Conducting Polymers, Two-Volume Set continues to be the definitive resource on the topic of conducting polymers. Completely updated with an extensive list of authors that draws on past and new contributors, the book takes into account the significant developments both in fundamental understanding and applications since publication of the previous edition. One of two volumes comprising the comprehensive Handbook, Conjugated Polymers: Perspective, Theory, and New Materials features new chapters on the fundamental theory and new materials involved in conducting polymers. It discusses the history of physics and chemistry of these materials and the theory behind them. Finally, it details polymer and materials chemistry including such topics as conjugated block copolymers, metal-containing conjugated polymers, and continuous flow processing. Aimed at researchers, advanced students, and industry professionals working in materials science and engineering, this book covers fundamentals, recent progress, and new materials involved in conducting polymers and includes a wide-ranging listing of comprehensive chapters authored by an international team of experts.

This book is derived from the findings of an EU-funded project. The objective ofthe project was to develop conductive plastic composites that are eco-friendly,cost effective and of high added value. This was achieved through an ambitiousmultidisciplinary approach developing new, radically innovative, knowledge-basedand sustainable products for protection against the effects of electromagneticinterference (EMI) and electrostatic discharge (ESD).Research was based on the compounding of engineering polymers and inherentlyconductive polymers (ICP) with improved conductivity, or hybrid systems of ICPwith conductive nanotubes and other fibrous conductors. Innovative processingtechnologies specifically tailored to the new materials were also developed. theproject aimed to dramatically extend the current performance and processabilityof ICP and alternative materials to enable significant replacement of metals in EMIshielding and ESD protection applications.This book will benefit plastics converters who wish to take full advantage of thepotential of conductive plastic materials.

Electrical Conductivity in Polymer-Based Composites: Experiments, Modelling and Applications offers detailed information on all aspects of conductive composites. These composites offer many benefits in comparison to traditional conductive materials, and have a broad range of applications, including electronic packaging, capacitors, thermistors, fuel cell devices, dielectrics, piezoelectric functions and ferroelectric memories. Sections cover the theory of electrical conductivity and the different categories of conductive composites, describing percolation threshold, tunneling effect and other phenomena in the field. Subsequent chapters present thorough coverage of the key phases in the development and use of conductive composites, including manufacturing methods, external parameters, applications, modelling and testing methods. This is an essential source of information for materials scientists and engineers working in the fields of polymer technology, processing and engineering, enabling them to improve manufacture and testing methods, and to benefit fully from applications. The book also provides industrial and academic researchers with a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of conductive composites and related issues. - Explains the methods used in the manufacture and testing of conductive composites, and in the modeling of electrical conductivity - Contains specialized information on the full range of applications for conductive composites, including conductive adhesives or pastes - Brings scientists, engineers and researchers up-to-date with the latest advances in the field