Electrical and mechanical properties of novel polyaniline coated polycaprolactam fibers

Polycaprolactam (PA6) fibers were coated with polyaniline (PANI) by a novel dissolving-coating method. In the dissolving-coating method, dissolution of PA6 fiber surface is the necessary condition for imparting conductivity to PA6 fiber. But the dissolution of fiber surface would cause the structural integrity of PA6 fiber being destroyed. In this research, the effect of solvent concentration and roller speed on the mechanical and electrical properties of PANI-coated PA6 fiber were discussed. The results showed that the optimum condition for PANI-coated PA6 fiber is 75% formic acid aqueous solution and 100 rpm. The coating durability of PANI was tested by TG, FT-IR, water washing and heating to different temperatures. The experimental data indicate that PANI coating is difficult to peel off after the heating and washing treatment.