Thermogravimetric study about PVC-polyaniline blends

By dissolution of PVC and polyaniline in dimethylformamide, a series of blends PVC-polyaniline were produced which were studied by scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetry. Special attention is focused on the kinetic study of the thermal degradation steps by using non-isothermal thermogravimetric data. The results show that the thermal stability of the synthesized blend is decreased as the total amount of polyaniline is enhanced. Furthermore, the Brřnsted acid doped blend is more stable than the corresponding undoped one. PVC and the PVC-polyaniline blends exhibit two mass loss steps which activation energy values are in the range from 176 to 283 kJ mol^-1 and 306 to 322 kJ mol^-1, respectively. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.