Waterborne core-shell dispersions based on intrinsically conducting polymers for coating applications

Summary form only given. A new route to obtain waterborne colloidal dispersions of intrinsically conducting polymers is found. A commercial aqueous resin dispersion which is stabilized by non-ionic surfactants is used and aqueous solutions of oxidant, eg FeCl/sub 3/, and pyrrole are added. The polypyrrole resin dispersion is centrifuge to remove excess oxidant and redispersed in water. Instead of pyrrole, aniline can be used. Reaction conditions like concentration, temperature and type of oxidant are varied. Core-shell like particles are shown to exist in polypyrrole/alkyd and, polypyrrole/polyurethane dispersions by microelectroforesis and dielectric measurements. It is believed that these were formed by polymerization of pyrrole at the water/resin interface. The polypyrrole shells can easily form a conducting path in the coating. Coatings from these dispersions have good conductivity and stability depending on the reaction conditions.