Volume 140, Issue 6 e53283
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Evolution of electrical conductivity in semi-interpenetrating polymer network of shape memory polyvinyl chloride and polyaniline

Xuelian Wu

Corresponding Author

Xuelian Wu

School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

Correspondence

Xuelian Wu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, China.

Email: [email protected]

Weimin Huang, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore.

Email: [email protected]

Contribution: ​Investigation (lead), Writing - original draft (lead), Writing - review & editing (lead)

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Jiaxing Zou

Jiaxing Zou

School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

Contribution: ​Investigation (equal)

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Jian Yang

Jian Yang

School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

Contribution: Software (equal)

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Jiang Jiang

Jiang Jiang

School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

Contribution: Software (supporting)

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Qin Feng

Qin Feng

School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

Contribution: ​Investigation (equal)

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Zihao Ye

Zihao Ye

School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

Contribution: Software (equal)

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Weimin Huang

Corresponding Author

Weimin Huang

School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

Correspondence

Xuelian Wu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, China.

Email: [email protected]

Weimin Huang, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore.

Email: [email protected]

Contribution: Writing - review & editing (equal)

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First published: 29 October 2022

Abstract

Electrically conductive semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) from shape memory polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyaniline (PANI) is realized. The mechanical properties and shape memory performance of semi-IPN are slightly different from the original PVC. The distribution of PANI within PVC is found to be non-uniform in the thickness direction. The electrical conductivity of the as-fabricated sample at room temperature is around 4.5 × 10−2 S/cm. However, after heating, thermal strain results in significant drop in electrical conductivity. Programming remarkably reduces the electrical conductivity as well. A higher programming temperature and higher programming strain result in more reduction. Subsequent heating for shape recovery causes further reduction in electrical conductivity, despite nearly full shape recovery is achieved. Doping (dedoping and redoping) is confirmed not the major player, but microgaps/fracture in PANI chains during stretching in programming and heating for shape recovery.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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