Electrically conducting polymers from phenylacetylene substituted Schiffʹs base momomers

Electrically conducting polymers have been synthesized from novel mono- or difunctional phenylacetylene-substituted Schiffʹs base monomers. These monomers melt to a viscous liquid state, and on continued heating above about 300°C, thermally polymerize to form an electrically insulating thermoset polymers. On further postcure heat treatment, the polymers become electroconductive showing a bulk conductivity of approximately 10−2 S/cm. Because the monomers remain in a liquid stage for 1–2 h, depending on the cure conditions, moldings, castings, and pre-pregs can be fabricated using conventional processing techniques. In addition, since reactive dopants are not used, the resulting polymers and conductivity are stable in ambient as well as more aggressive environments, allowing them to function at 300°C and above. The monomers are well characterized, but the structure of the cured and postcured polymers are not yet well defined because of their high stability and intractability in the cured state.