(1) Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Inha University, 402–751 Incheon, Korea;(2) Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890, USA
Abstract:
Microspheres consisting of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shell wrapping the conductive polyaniline (PANI) particle as a core were prepared by an in-situ suspension polymerization method and then adopted as an electrorheological (ER) material. The polymerization reaction and encapsulation were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis. The rod-like PANI particles were synthesized via an emulsion polymerization protocol and observed by transmission electron microscopy. In addition, a spherical shape of encapsulated PANI/PMMA (core/shell) microspheres was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The thermal stability of PANI/PMMA particles was examined by use of thermogravimetric analysis. The PANI/PMMA particle-based suspension in silicone oil exhibited typical ER behavior. The conductivity of PANI/PMMA particles was much lower than that of the rod-like PANI.
