Surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabric using conductive polyaniline

In this study, pure polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric was coated with polyaniline (PANI) doped with hydrochloric acid (HCl) by in situ chemical oxidation polymerization to form conductive PET/PANIHCl fabric. The surface morphology, chemical, structural, and electrical conductivity of the conductive PET/PANIHCl fabric are examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and a four-point probe, respectively. FE-SEM images showed that PANIHCl was successfully coated on the PET fabric. According to the four-point probe test, the electrical conductivity of pure PET and PET/PANIHCl fabrics were 6.71 x 10(-9) and 2.18 x 10(-3 )S/cm, respectively. The electrical conductivity of PET/PANIHCl fabric is about 10(6) higher than that of pure PET fabric. The conductive PET/PANIHCl fabric can be used as antistatic and electrostatic discharge material, and even anti-electromagnetic interference material.