Formation of thermally stable polypyrrole-naphthalene benzene sulfonate carbon fiber composites by an electrochemical process

High volume fraction of polypyrrole coatings doped with aromatic naphthalene-1,5-disulfonic acid disodium salt (NDSDNa) and benzene sulfonic acid sodium salt (BzSNa), respectively, have been formed on carbon fibers. Polypyrrole coatings as high as 390% (similar to 80% by weight) was formed on carbon fibers after about 45 min of electropolymerization. Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), of the coatings confirmed that the resulting polypyrrole coatings were doped with benzene sulfonate and naphthalene disulfonate ions, respectively. Thermal analysis shows char retention of the polypyrrole coatings to be greater than or equal to 65%, indicating that the electropolymerized polypyrrole coatings have excellent thermal stability and are good candidates for use in carbon-carbon composites. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.