Characterization,morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of conductive polyaniline‐functionalized EPDM elastomers obtained by casting

Conductive elastomeric blends based on ethylene–propylene–5‐ethylidene–2‐norbornene terpolymer (EPDM) and polyaniline doped with 4‐dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid [PAni(DBSA)] were cast from organic solvents. Functionalization of the elastomer was promoted by grafting with maleic anhydride. Vulcanization conditions were optimized with an oscillating disk rheometer. The conductivity, morphology, thermal stability, compatibility, and mechanical behavior of the obtained mixtures were analyzed by in situ direct current conductivity measurements, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, stress–strain and hysteresis tests. The vulcanization process was affected by temperature, the PAni content, and maleic anhydride. A reinforcement effect was promoted by the vulcanizing agent. The formation of links between the high‐molar‐mass phases and oligomers of PAni(DBSA) in the elastomeric matrix enhanced the thermal stability and ultimate properties of the blends. By the appropriate control of the polymer blends' composition, it was possible to produce elastomeric materials with conductivities in the range of 10^?5–10^?4 S · cm^?1 and excellent mechanical properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1767–1782, 2004     

Synthesis of polybutadiene‐graft‐poly(dimethylsiloxane) and polyethylene‐graft‐poly(dimethylsiloxane) copolymers with hydrosilylation reactions

We report preliminary results for the synthesis of polyethylene‐graft‐poly(dimethylsiloxane) copolymers obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of polybutadiene‐graft‐poly(dimethylsiloxane) copolymers (PB‐g‐PDMS). These last copolymers were synthesized by hydrosilylation reactions between commercial polybutadiene and ω‐silane poly(dimethylsiloxane). The reaction was carried in solution catalyzed by cis‐dichloro bis(diethylsufide) platinum(II) salt. The PB‐g‐PDMS copolymers were analyzed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, and the relative weight percentages of the grafted poly(dimethylsiloxane) macromonomer were determined from the integrated peak areas of the spectra. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2920–2930, 2004     

Selectively sulfonated poly(aryl ether sulfone)‐b‐polybutadiene for proton exchange membrane

A series of selectively sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)‐b‐polybutadiene copolymers (SPAES‐b‐PB) were prepared based on carboxyl terminated polybutadiene (CTPB) and sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) that was directly prepared by polycondensation of 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol with different molar ratios of disodium 3,3′‐disulfonate‐4,4′‐dichlorodiphenyl sulfone (SDCDPS) to 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenylsulfone (DCDPS), and subsequent selective postsulfonation of flexible PB block was carried out. Epoxidized modification of membranes was conducted by an in situ‐generated peracid method. The content of sulfonic acid groups attaching to aromatic rings in SPAES was determined by ¹H NMR and was in good aggrement with the controlled ratios. The effect of sulfonated rigid blocks on the postsulfonation of PB blocks was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The glass transition temperature (T_g) and the temperature of the melting peak (T) of membranes in acid form were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Fenton's reagent test revealed that the selectively sulfonated SPAES‐b‐PB membranes had good stability to oxidation. The microstructure of rod‐like rigid SPAES blocks and interpenetrating network of ions were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Complex impedance measurement showed that an epoxidized membrane with SPAES‐40 exhibited the highest proton conductivity (1.08 × 10^?1 S/cm, 90 °C), which was due to the formation of obvious ionic networks. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 665–672, 2006     

Novel conducting polymer poly[bis(phenylamino)disulfide]: Synthesis,characterization, and properties

A bis(phenylamino)disulfide was prepared through the reaction of S₂Cl₂ with aniline, and its configuration was confirmed with elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Fourier transform Raman (FT‐Raman), and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. A novel conducting polymer, poly[bis(phenylamino)disulfide] (PPAD), was synthesized from bis(phenylamino)disulfide by both chemical and electrochemical polymerization. The structure of this polymer, in which the side‐chain disulfide bonds were linked to the nitrogen atoms of the main‐chain polyaniline, was characterized with FTIR, FT‐Raman, gel permeation chromatography, electron spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A four‐probe measurement revealed that the electrical conductivity of PPAD was 1.8 × 10^?2 to 2.1 × 10^?3 S cm^?1, depending on the doping agents and the pH of the medium for either chemical synthesis or electrochemical synthesis. The conductivity, molecular weight, and spectroscopic properties of the polymer, in comparison with those of polyaniline, showed decreases in the polaron delocalization, structural order, and doping level of the main chain because of the steric hindrance of side‐chain S? S bonds. The cyclic voltammograms of the polymer and the monomer showed that the redox reactions (doping/undoping processes) of the main chain (π‐conjugated system) occurred in almost the same potential range of ?0.3 to 0.3 V versus an Ag/AgCl (saturated KCl) electrode as that of thiol (thiolate anion)/disulfide of the side chain in PPAD; the bond cleavage (reduction) and formation (oxidation) reactions of the disulfide bond in the polymer became easier and more reversible than those of the monomer. These results suggested that this conducting organodisulfide polymer might be a candidate material for energy‐storage devices such as lithium secondary batteries, proton‐exchange batteries, and electrochemical capacitors. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2329–2339, 2004     

Polyaniline/iron nanocomposites prepared by cryomilling

The polyaniline/iron nanocomposites with both conducting and magnetic properties have been prepared by cryomilling (high‐energy ball milling under cryogenic temperature), in which the average size of iron grains attains 20 nm. Enhanced coercivity of 206 Oe and decreased conductivity of 0.1 S cm^?1 at room temperature have been obtained for the nanocomposites containing 10% volume fraction of iron in polyaniline after cryomilling for 20 h. The high value of the coercivity could be considered due to the presence of a fraction of single‐domain particles in the nanocomposites. The low value of the conductivity could be considered due to the dedoping of conducting polyaniline with the cryomilling time. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3157–3164, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of polyaniline nanoparticles in phosphonic acid amphiphile aqueous micellar solutions for waterborne corrosion protection coatings

Polyaniline (PANI) dispersions consisting of 270 to 380 nm sized particles were prepared by oxidation with ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) in n‐decylphosphonic acid (DPA) micellar solutions. The green dispersions do not undergo macroscopic precipitation for more than a year. The synthesized DPA doped PANI exhibited enhanced electrical conductivity (3.6 S cm^?1 ) compared with DPA‐PANI (2.3 x 10 ^{? 4} S cm ^{? 1}) prepared by postsynthesis treatment of the PANI‐base with DPA. It was shown that through protonation with decylphosphonic acid, polyaniline showed a significantly enhanced solubility in common organic solvents like chloroform, xylene, etc. The synthesized PANI was characterized by intrinsic viscosity, solubility, FT‐IR , conductivity, SEM , and TGA measurements. The wide‐angle X ‐ray diffraction study revealed the appearance of a peak located at low angles (d = 29.4 – 35.3 Å) suggesting the formation of layered structure of PANI backbone separated by long alkyl side chains of DPA. The anticorrosive performance of the bilayer coatings composed of a bottom layer of DPA doped polyaniline covered with a polyvinyl butyral topcoat, have been demonstrated for steel exposed to neutral saline solutions. It was found that the inhibitive properties of DPA dopant provides further protection to the base metal through smart release when damage is produced on the surface of the coating. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1606–1616     

Stability of polyaniline in air and acidic water

Polyaniline is a member of the class of electrically conducting polymers, having possible commercial applications such as coatings. Aqueous‐based polyaniline coatings are preferred over organic solvent or concentrated strong acid based coatings because water is not a pollutant. The overall goal of this study was to further the development of water‐based polyaniline coatings by an examination of the effect of acidic water (pH 1.18) and air on polyaniline. Knowledge of the effect of water on the structure, molecular weight, electrical conductivity, and diffusion of the dopant assisted in ascertaining whether polyaniline degraded with water exposure. Knowledge of how Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra would be affected by dry air was important for determining if polyaniline was chemically stable with time. The results showed that the molecular weight, ultraviolet–visible and FTIR spectra, and carbon‐to‐nitrogen molar ratio in the polymer backbone all remained unchanged during acidic water immersion. The constant nature of these physical parameters showed a high degree of water stability. A chloride ion diffusion coefficient of 2.8 to 85 × 10^?9 cm²/h, the chloride concentration, and the electrical conductivity were also measured with the water immersion time. Aging polyaniline powders in a desiccator for 5 years showed no effect on the molecular structure, as indicated by the FTIR spectrum. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 807–822, 2003     

Synthesis of an amphiphilic styrenic block copolymer: Polycondensation of dichloromethane and low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) in the presence of hydroxypropylated polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene

An amphiphilic styrenic block copolymer, polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene‐block‐poly[oxymethylene‐alt‐oligo(oxyethylene)] (PS‐b‐PB‐b‐POME), was synthesized through a polycondensation reaction of low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) and dichloromethane in the presence of hydroxypropylated polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene (PS‐b‐PB‐OH) used as a monofunctional chain‐capping reagent. PS‐b‐PB‐OH was in turn prepared via an anionic synthesis of PS‐b‐PB followed by oxetane capping and methanol quenching. Although PS‐b‐PB‐OH has insignificant hydrophilicity, PS‐b‐PB‐b‐POME containing both the hydrophobic PS‐b‐PB segment and the hydrophilic POME segment had an improved emulsifying capability and effectively decreased the interfacial tension between water and toluene. The hydrophile–lipophile balance value of this amphiphilic PS‐b‐PB‐b‐POME copolymer, consisting of 86 wt % of the POME segment and 14 wt % of the PS‐b‐PB segment, was 17.2. The molecular weight of the copolymer molecule was determined by gel permeation chromatography–multi‐angle laser light scattering, and the microstructure was analyzed using ¹H NMR. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2625–2632, 2001     

Electrochemical Synthesis of a Microporous Conductive Polymer Based on a Metal–Organic Framework Thin Film

A new approach to preparing 3D microporous conductive polymer has been demonstrated in the electrochemical synthesis of a porous polyaniline network with the utilization of a MOF thin film supported on a conducting substrate. The prepared porous polyaniline with well‐defined uniform micropores of 0.84 nm exhibits a high BET surface area of 986 m² g^?1 and a high electric conductivity of 0.125 S cm^?1 when doped with I₂, which is superior to existing porous conducting materials of porous MOFs, CMPs, and COFs.     

Synthesis and bulk characterization of new P(CB‐b‐S) diblock copolymers

Strongly asymmetric chlorinated polybutadiene‐b‐polystyrene, [P((CB)_x‐b‐(PS)_y)] diblock copolymers with increasing x/(x + y) ratios (up to 5.2 mol %) have been synthesized by the selective chlorination of the polybutadiene (PB) block in solution. Chlorination has been performed in anhydrous dichloromethane added with an antioxidant [2,2′‐methylenebis‐(6‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methyl‐phenol)], at −50°C, under a continuous Ar flow and in the dark. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the PB chlorination is not complete, but the PS block is left unmodified. Even in the presence of a large chlorine excess (Cl₂/butene unit molar ratio of 2.5), the experimental degree of chlorination of homo PB does not exceed 85%. The chlorinated copolymers have been characterized by ¹H‐NMR, IR spectroscopy, size‐exclusion chromatography, and elemental analysis. The chlorinated copolymers have also been studied by DSC and SAXS after annealing at 150°C. Although at this temperature the parent homopolymers are immiscible, no microphase separation has been observed for the block copolymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 233–244, 1999     

New method of synthesis of electroactive polyamide with amine‐capped aniline pentamer in the main chain

A novel way to prepare an electroactive polyamide (alternating copolymer) is presented. Well‐defined molecular structure polyamide with amine‐capped aniline pentamer in the main chain was obtained. The copolymer has been characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, ¹H NMR, elemental analysis (EA), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Its chemical oxidation process was studied by UV–vis spectra and the electrochemical analysis was checked by cyclic voltammetry (CV). It was found that the obtained electroactive polyamide shows three redox peaks in the cyclic voltammetry, which is different from the polyaniline. Moreover, the thermal properties of the copolymer were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The electrical conductivity is about 2.5 × 10^?6 S cm^?1 at room temperature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 477–482, 2006     

Polymerization of aniline by copper‐catalyzed air oxidation

A novel method for preparing organosoluble and conducting polyaniline (PANI) is presented. It is demonstrated that Cu(II) is an excellent catalyst for the polymerization of aniline by air oxygen in aqueous emulsions. Reactions carried out at 0 °C or at room temperature yield PANIs of reasonably high molecular weights (number‐average molecular weight = 23,000–114,000 Da) in an emeraldine base form that are soluble in many organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, N‐methylpyrrolidinone, chloroform, and acetone. Spectroscopic investigations (ultraviolet, Fourier transform infrared, and ¹H NMR) have shown that PANI obtained by this procedure has the same structure as those prepared by the conventional persulfate oxidation method. The resulting PANIs show reasonable electronic conductivities (0.067–0.320 S cm^?1) upon doping with p‐toluenesulfonic acid or dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6025–6031, 2006     

Ionic IPNs as novel candidates for highly conductive solid polymer electrolytes

Five ionic imidazolium based monomers, namely 1‐vinyl‐3‐ethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (ILM1), 1‐vinyl‐3‐(diethoxyphosphinyl)‐propylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (ILM2), 1‐[2‐(2‐methyl‐acryloyloxy)‐propyl]‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (ILM3), 1‐[2‐(2‐methyl‐acryloyloxy)‐undecyl]‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (ILM4), 1‐vinyl‐3‐ethylimidazolium dicyanamide (ILM5) were prepared and used for the synthesis of linear polymeric ionic liquids (PILs), crosslinked networks with polyethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (PEGDM) and interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on polybutadiene (PB). The ionic conductivities of IPNs prepared using an in situ strategy were found to depend on the ILM nature, T_g and the ratio of the other components. Novel ionic IPNs are characterized by increased flexibility, small swelling ability in ionic liquids (ILs) along with high conductivity and preservation of mechanical stability even in a swollen state. The maximum conductivity for a pure IPN was equal to 3.6 × 10^?5 S/cm at 20 °C while for IPN swollen in [1‐Me‐3‐Etim] (CN)₂N σ reached 8.5 × 10^?3 S/cm at 20 °C or 1.4 × 10^?2 S/cm at 50 °C. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4245–4266, 2009     

Corrosion studies of polyaniline/coconut oil poly(esteramide urethane) coatings

Advancements in the area of conducting polymers have been towards their application as effective corrosion protective coatings to replace the use of heavy metals as additives in the coatings industries, which are now considered to be an environmental as well as health hazard. With the aim to utilize a sustainable resource based polymer for the development of an anti‐corrosive conducting coating material, coconut oil based conducting blend coatings of polyaniline and poly(esteramide urethane) were prepared by loading different ratios (2, 4 and 8 wt%) of polyaniline in poly(esteramide urethane). Then their physico‐chemical, thermal, morphological, conductivity and anti‐corrosive coating characteristics were investigated. The effect of a 2 year environmental aging process on the coated samples was analyzed by thermal methods as well as by corrosion studies. Results showed that the corrosion protective performance of the blend coatings was far superior than that of plane poly(esteramide urethane). These coatings showed enhanced corrosion protection in acid as well as alkaline environments upto 360 and 192 hr respectively. Conductivity of the blends was found to be in the range 2.5 × 10^?5–5.7 × 10^?4 S/cm^?1. An increase in the thermal stability of the blend coatings and a decrease in their conductivity was noticed in the aged samples which was attributed to the crosslinking effect. The corrosion protective performance of the coatings remained almost unaffected even after 2 years of aging. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel nano size electroactive poly 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl sulphone

The modification of electrodeposited polyaniline film by subsequent electrodeposition of 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) leads to a new material having nanostructure. The coated polymer films were treated with various pH solutions. The film adherent characteristics and surface morphology were studied using SEM. The electrochemically synthesized polyDDS revealed good redox behavior. The DDS was also polymerized by the chemical oxidation method using potassium persulphate. The polymer was characterized by UV‐Vis and FTIR spectral studies. The formation of polymer through the N? H group was understood from the single N? H stretching vibrational frequency at 3459 cm^?1. The X‐ray diffraction studies revealed the formation of nano sized (28 nm) crystalline polymer. The conductivity of the polymer was determined to be 1.07 × 10^?4 S.cm^?1. The solubility of the chemically polymerized powder was ascertained, and polyDDS showed good solubility in DMF and DMSO. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1702–1707, 2005     

Synthesis and properties of processable conducting copolymers from N‐ethylaniline with aniline

Copolymers were synthesized through the chemically oxidative polymerization of N‐ethylaniline (EA) and aniline (AN) in five acid aqueous media. The polymerization yield, intrinsic viscosity, molecular weight, solubility, solvatochromism, electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties of the copolymer films were systematically studied through changes in the comonomer ratio, polymerization temperature, oxidant, oxidant/monomer ratio, and acid medium. Open‐circuit‐potential and temperature measurements of the polymerization solutions showed that the polymerization rate depended on the EA content, and the polymerization was an exothermic reaction. The resultant copolymers were characterized in detail with IR, ultraviolet–visible, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, wide‐angle X‐ray diffractometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The reactivity ratios of the monomer pair were calculated from the ¹H NMR spectra of the copolymers formed at a low conversion. The polymers exhibited good solubility and interesting solvatochromism in most of the solvents and variable conductivity with the EA/AN ratio and doping state. The conductivity of the HCl‐doped copolymers increased monotonically from 5.61 × 10^?7 to 2.55 × 10^?1 S/cm with decreasing EA content from 100 to 0 mol % and showed a percolation transition between EA concentrations of 20 and 30 mol %. The EA/AN copolymers also had excellent film formability and flexibility together with high mechanical and oxygen‐enriching properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6109–6124, 2004     

Sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing naphthalene moieties obtained by direct copolymerization as novel polymers for proton exchange membranes

A series of sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone)s (SPAEKs) were prepared by aromatic nucleophilic polycondensation of 2,6‐dihydroxynaphthalene with 5,5′‐carbonyl‐bis(2‐fluorobenzenesulfonate) and 4,4′‐difluorobenzophenone. The structure and degree of sulfonation (DS) of the SPAEKs were characterized using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The experimentally observed DS values were close to the expected values derived from the starting material ratios. The thermal stabilities of the SPAEKs were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, which showed that in acid and sodium salt forms they were thermally stable in air up to about 240 and 380 °C, respectively. Transparent membranes cast from the directly polymerized SPAEKs exhibited good mechanical properties in both dry and hydrated states. The dependence of water uptake and of membrane swelling on the DS at different temperatures was studied. SPAEK membranes with a DS from 0.72 to 1.60 maintained adequate mechanical properties after immersion in water at 80 °C for 24 h. The proton conductivity of SPAEK membranes with different degrees of sulfonation was measured as a function of temperature. The proton conductivity of the SPAEK films increased with increased DS, and the highest room temperature conductivity (4.2 × 10^?2 S/cm) was recorded for a SPAEK membrane with a DS of 1.60, which further increased to 1.1 × 10^?1 S/cm at 80 °C. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2866–2876, 2004     

Preparation of conductive polybenzoxazines by oxidative polymerization

Soluble and thermally curable conducting high molecular weight polybenzoxazine precursors were prepared by oxidative polymerization 3‐phenyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[e][1,3] oxazine (P‐a) alone and in the presence of thiophene (Th) with ceric ammonium nitrate in acetonitrile. The structure of the precursors was confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and DSC measurements, indicating the presence of a cyclic benzoxazine structure, together with small but varying amount of a ring opened phenolic structure. The resulting polymers exhibit conductivities around 10^?2 S cm^?1 and undergo thermal curing at various temperatures. Attempts to copolymerize P‐a with another electroactive monomer, pyrrole (Py), by a similar redox process were unsuccessful, which was attributed to the unfavourable oxidation potential of Py. The cured products exhibited high thermal stability but lower conductivity, than those of the precursors. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 999–1006, 2007     

Imidazolium‐based poly(ionic liquid)s with poly(ethylene oxide) main chains: Effects of spacer and tail structures on ionic conductivity

Ten types of cationic glycidyl triazole polymers (GTPs) are prepared from combinations of five alkyl‐imidazolium units (methyl‐, ethyl‐, n‐propyl‐, iso‐propyl‐, and n‐butyl‐imidazoliums) and two spacers [di‐ and tri(ethylene glycol)s]. Since these poly(ionic liquid)s are prepared from the same sample of glycidyl azide polymer by postfunctionalization method, they have the same degree of polymerization. Therefore, the structure–property relationship can be discussed without influence of molecular weight difference. The samples are characterized by NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The ionic conductivity data are obtained by impedance measurements. The GTPs with the tri(ethylene glycol) spacer and ethyl‐ and n‐butyl‐imidazolium units afford the highest anhydrous conductivity of 1.5 × 10^?5 S cm^?1 at 30 °C. Based on electrode polarization (EP) analysis, we calculate the conducting ion (carrier) concentration and mobility. We discuss the effect of the spacer and N‐alkyl tail structures on the ionic conductivity using the data obtained by EP analysis and X‐ray diffraction. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2896–2906     

Highly soluble conducting poly(ethylene oxide) grafted at two sites of poly(o‐aminobenzyl alcohol)

Poly(o‐aminobenzyl alcohol) (POABA) was grafted with poly(ethylene oxide)s (PEOs) through the reaction of tosylated PEO with both the hydroxide and amine moieties of reduced POABA. Reduced POABA was prepared through the acid‐mediated polymerization of o‐aminobenzyl alcohol, followed by neutralization with an aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution and reduction with hydrazine. The grafted copolymers were very soluble in common polar solvents, such as chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethylformamide, and the copolymers with longer PEO side chains (number‐average molecular weight > 164) were even water‐soluble. The conductivities of the doped grafted copolymers decreased with increasing PEO side‐chain length because of the nonconducting PEO and its torsional effect on the POABA backbone. The conductivity of highly water‐soluble POABA‐g‐PEO‐350 was 0.689 × 10^?3 S/cm, that is, in the semiconducting range. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4756–4764, 2004