Simultaneous reinforcing and toughening of PTFE/glass fabric composites based on polyaniline/carbon microcapsule network

Through designing dispersed well and assembled orderly structures, a series of polyaniline (PANI)/carbon (CB) microcapsules were successfully synthesised. In the formation of the PANI/CB microcapsules, PANI/CB microcapsules were in good dispersion and ordered state, which resulted in exceptional mechanical properties and electrical conductivity for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/glass fabric (GF) composites. Here, the authors have developed the PTFE/GF composites that have not only tensile strength up to 21.5 MPa, but also toughness up to 17.5 MJ/m(3), and surface resistivity up to 5 x 10(8) cm, it is difficult to obtain by other methods. This was achieved by only assembled orderly and ordered arrangement for forming highly ordered network structures in an oriented direction, without introducing a third component or chemical cross-linker as in interfacial systems. More importantly, they believe that the design principles and processing strategies, which can be applied to other material systems to develop superconducting, strong and flexible materials.