Intercalated conducting polyaniline–clay nanocomposites and their electrical characteristics Original Research Article

A nanocomposite material, which consists of polyaniline (PANI) and inorganic Na+-montmorillonite (MMT), was synthesized via a microemulsion polymerization method, in which the Na+-MMT was forced to be swollen, following insertion of a mixture of aniline monomer, sodium lauryl sulfate and pentanol under sonication into its gallery. The d-spacing of the PANI/Na+-MMT nanocomposite was found to become wider about 2.3 Å than that of the pure Na+-MMT particles, due to the successful intercalation of PANI into Na+-MMT layers. The electrorheological (ER) fluid based on the fabricated PANI/Na+-MMT nanocomposite was prepared by dispersing the particles in insulating silicone oil. Dynamic mechanical properties of the ER fluid were investigated via an oscillatory test using a vertical oscillation rheometer.