Synthesis and properties of crystalline dicarboxylated poly(L‐lactic acid) prepolymers

Crystalline dicarboxylated poly(L ‐lactic acid)s (dcPLLAs) with number‐average molecular weights (M_n's) of 10³ to 10⁴ g/mol were synthesized via the melt polycondensation of L ‐lactic acid (LLA) in the presence of succinic anhydride (SAD), with tin(II) chloride and toluene‐4‐sulfonic acid as binary catalysts. They were characterized by end‐group titration, ¹H‐NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The terminal COOH percentage reached over 98%, and the molecular weight could be controlled by the molar ratio of LLA to SAD. The thermal behaviors depended on the molecular weight. The poly(L ‐lactic acid)s (PLLAs) crystallized slowly for M_n ≤ 2000 but quickly for M_n ≥ 4000. The crystallinity increased from 27 to 40% when M_n grew from 4000 to 10,000. With comparison to ordinary PLLA, the dcPLLA had the same crystallization structure but a slightly lower crystallizability. The glass‐transition temperature was clearly higher than that of amorphous dcPLLAs. With a controllable molecular weight, high COOH percentage, and crystallinity, the dcPLLA with M_n ≥ 4000 appeared to be a suitable prepolymer for the preparation of high‐molecular‐weight crystalline PLLA via chain extension. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis and characterization of new aromatic polyesters containing pendent naphthyl units

Two bisphenols, viz., 4,4′‐[1‐(2‐naphthalenyl)ethylidene]bisphenol and 4,4′‐[1‐(2‐naphthalenyl) ethylidene]bis‐3‐methylphenol were prepared by condensation of commercially available 2‐acetonaphthanone with phenol and o‐cresol, respectively. A series of new aromatic polyesters containing pendent naphthyl units was synthesized by phase‐transfer‐catalyzed interfacial polycondensation of these bisphenols with isophthaloyl chloride, terephthaloyl chloride, and a mixture of isophthaloyl chloride/terephthaloyl chloride (50 : 50 mol %). Inherent viscosities of polyesters were in the range 0.83–1.76 dL g⁻¹, while number average molecular weights (M_n) were in the range 61,000–235,000 g mol⁻¹. Polyesters were readily soluble in organic solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, m‐cresol, pyridine, N,N‐dimethylformamide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone at room temperature. Tough, transparent, and flexible films were cast from a solution of polyesters in chloroform. X‐Ray diffraction measurements displayed a broad halo at 2θ ≅ 19° indicating the amorphous nature of polyesters. Glass transition temperatures of polyesters were in the range 209–259°C. The temperature at 10% weight loss (T₁₀), determined by TGA in nitrogen atmosphere, of polyesters was in the range 435–500°C indicating their good thermal stability. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Novel optically active poly(amide‐imide)s with tetrahydropyrimidinone and tetrahydro‐2‐thioxopyrimidine moieties by microwave‐assisted polycondensation

Rapid and highly efficient synthesis of novel poly(amide‐imide)s (PAIs) were achieved under microwave irradiation by using a domestic microwave oven from the polycondensation reactions of 4,4′‐carbonyl‐bis(phthaloyl‐L ‐alanine) diacid chloride [N,N′‐(4,4′‐carbonyldiphthaloyl)] bisalanine diacid chloride (1) with six different derivatives of tetrahydropyrimidinone and tetrahydro‐2‐thioxopyrimidine compounds (2a–2f) in the presence of a small amount of a nonpolar organic medium that acts as a primary microwave absorber. Suitable organic media was o‐cresol. The polycondensation proceeded rapidly and was almost completed within 10 min, giving a series of PAIs with inherent viscosities of about 0.25–0.45 dL/g. The resulting PAIs were obtained in high yield and are optically active and thermally stable. All of the above compounds were fully characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analyses, inherent viscosity (η_inh), solubility test, and specific rotation. Thermal properties of the PAIs were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2416–2421, 2001     

Design and performance evaluation of multilayer packaging films for blister packaging applications

Five multilayer packaging film structures consisting of amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) (APET), low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and acrylonitrile/methyl acrylate copolymer (Barex) films [i.e., APET/polyethylene (PE), APET/PP, APET/PE + UV inhibitor, APET/PP/PE, and APET/Barex/PP] for blister packaging applications were designed and produced. Blister containers with APET/PE and APET/Barex/PP structures were prepared, and their optical, mechanical, barrier (O₂, CO₂, and H₂O), physical, and product/package compatibility performance properties were evaluated. Package/product compatibility with simulants (soy sauce and sunscreen skin cream) at 37.8°C was evaluated for 3, 7, 14, and 28 days in the multilayer films and the blister containers. APET/Barex/PP film showed significantly better O₂ and CO₂ barrier performance than the other four film structures. The UV inhibitor had no significant effect on the barrier properties in the APET/PE film structure. All of the film structures showed high enough elastic storage modulus values to be applied to blister packaging in a broad range of temperatures between ?45 and 80°C. The glass‐transition temperature of APET, which was responsible for the elastic modulus of the multilayer structure, decreased after the samples were exposed to the skin cream. This decrease may have been due to the sorption of the skin cream's active ingredients, such as ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene‐co‐trimethylene terephthalate)s

Taking advantage of a melt polycondensation process, a series of copolyesters composed of pure terephthalate acid (PTA), ethylene glycol (EG), and 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PDO) were synthesized. The component, molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and thermal properties of the copolymers were characterized. The results show that the contents of trimethylene terephthalate (TT) units in the resulting copolyesters are higher than PDO compositions in original diol. Oligomer content in the copolyesters varies with the compositions and attains a minimum value when the TT ingredient is 49.52 mol %. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the copolyesters varies from 78.5°C for PET (polyethylene terephthalate) to 43.5°C for PTT (polytrimethylene terephthalate) and decreases monotonically with the components. The copolyesters are amorphous copolymers when TT content is in the range of 32.4–40.8 mol %, as calculated from the melting enthalpy (ΔH_m) measured via differential scanning calorimetry. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 1511–1521 2006     

Synthesis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) in benzyl imidazolium ionic liquids

In order to improve the method of synthesis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), a series of ionic liquids (ILs) based on benzyl imidazolium ([YBMIM][X], Y = NO₂, CH₃, F; B = benzyl; X = Tf₂N) were used to investigate the formation of PET at low temperature and pressure. High molecular weight PET (M_w up to 2.6 × 10⁴ g mol^?1) was obtained by two‐step polycondensation in these ILs at lower temperature (230–240 °C) than with traditional melt polycondensation (270–290 °C). Moreover, the molecular weight of the resulting PET was found to depend on the activities of the catalysts used in the ILs. The catalysts (Sb₂(OCH₂CH₂O)₃, Sb(OAc)₃, Sb₂O₃) used in the preparation of PET have little effect on the thermostability of the ILs. The ILs can decrease the viscosity of the reaction system, and thus small molecules can be easily removed. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis,characterization, and antimicrobial properties of oligo‐4‐[(pyridine‐3‐yl‐methylene) amino] phenol

The oxidative polycondensation reaction conditions of 4‐[(pyridine‐3‐yl‐methylene) amino]phenol (4‐PMAP) were studied using H₂O₂, atmospheric O₂, and NaOCl oxidants in an aqueous alkaline medium between 30°C and 90°C. Synthesized oligo‐4‐[(pyridine‐3‐yl‐methylene) amino] phenol (O‐4‐PMAP) was characterized by ¹H‐, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, UV–vis, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and elemental analysis techniques. The yield of O‐4‐PMAP was found to be 32% (for H₂O₂ oxidant), 68% (for atmospheric O₂ oxidant), and 82% (for NaOCl oxidant). According to the SEC analysis, the number–average molecular weight, weight–average molecular weight, and polydispersity index values of O‐4‐PMAP was found to be 5767, 6646 g mol^?1, and 1.152, respectively, using H₂O₂, and 4540, 5139 g mol^?1, and 1.132, respectively, using atmospheric O₂, and 9037, 9235 g mol^?1, and 1.022, using NaOCl, respectively. According to TG and DSC analyses, O‐4‐PMAP was more stable than 4‐PMAP against thermal decomposition. The weight loss of O‐4‐PMAP was found to be 94.80% at 1000°C. Also, antimicrobial activities of the oligomer were tested against B. cereus, L. monocytogenes, B. megaterium, B. subtilis, E. coli, Str. thermophilus, M. smegmatis, B. brevis, E. aeroginesa, P. vulgaris, M. luteus, S. aureus, and B. jeoreseens. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3327–3333, 2006     

Microwave‐assisted and conventional polycondensation reaction of optically active N,N′‐(4,4′‐sulphonediphthaloyl)‐bis‐L‐leucine diacid chloride with aromatic diamines

3,3′,4,4′‐Diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic dianhydride ( 1 ) was reacted with L‐leucine ( 2 ) in acetic acid and the resulting imide‐acid ( 3 ) was obtained in high yield. The diacid chloride ( 4 ) was prepared from diacid derivative ( 3 ) by reaction with thionyl chloride. The polycondensation reaction of diacid chloride ( 4 ) with several aromatic diamines such as 4,4′‐sulfonyldianiline ( 5a ), 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl methane ( 5b ), 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylether ( 5c ), p‐phenylenediamine ( 5d ), m‐phenylenediamine ( 5e ), 2,4‐diaminotoluene ( 5f ), and 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene ( 5g ) was developed by using a domestic microwave oven in the presence of a small amount of a polar organic medium such as o‐cresol. The polymerization reactions were also performed under two conventional methods: low temperature solution polycondensation in the presence of trimethylsilyl chloride, and a short period reflux conditions. A series of optically active poly(amide‐imide)s with inherent viscosity of 0.25–0.42 dL/g were obtained with high yield. All of the above polymers were fully characterized by IR, elemental analyses, and specific rotation techniques. Some structural characterizations and physical properties of these optically active poly (amide‐imide) s are reported. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2992–3000, 2004     

Preparation of new poly(amide–imide)s with chiral architectures via direct polyamidation reaction

N‐trimellitylimido‐L ‐methionine ( 3 ) was prepared by reaction of trimellitic anhydride ( 1 ) with ‐L ‐methionine ( 2 ) in acetic acid solution at refluxing temperature. This diacid was reacted with thionyl chloride, and N‐trimellitylimido‐L ‐methionine diacid chloride ( 4 ) was obtained in quantitative yield. The resulting diacid chloride was reacted with p‐aminobenzoic acid in dry acetone and bis(p‐aminobenzoic acid)‐N‐trimellitylimido‐L ‐methionine ( 5 ) was obtained as a novel optically active amide–imide diacid monomer in high yield. The direct polycondensation of amide–imide diacid monomer 5 with several aromatic diamines was carried out with tosyl chloride (TsCl)/pyridine (Py)/dimetheylformamide (DMF) system. The resulting thermally stable poly(amide–imide)s (PAIs) were obtained in good yields and inherent viscosities ranging between 0.24 and 0.46 dL g^?1 and were characterized with FTIR, ¹H NMR, CHN, and TGA techniques. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1248–1254, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(butylene terephthalate)‐co‐poly(butylene succinate)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) segmented block copolymers

Poly(butylene terephthalate)‐co‐poly(butylene succinate)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) segmented random copolymers, with poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) molar fraction (M_PBS) varying from 10 to 60 %, were synthesized through a melt polycondensation process and characterized by means of GPC, NMR, DSC and mechanical testing. The number‐average relative molecular mass of the copolymers was higher than 4 × 10⁴ g mol^?1 with polydispersity below 1.9. Sequence distribution analysis on the two types of hard segments by means of ¹H NMR revealed that the number‐average sequence length of PBT decreased from 2.80 to 1.23, while that of PBS increased from 1.27 to 4.76 with increasing M_PBS. The random distribution of hard segments was also justified because of the degree of randomness around 1.0. Micro‐phase separation structure was verified for the appearance of two glass transition temperatures and two melting points, respectively, in DSC thermograms of most samples. The crystallinity of hard segments changed with the crystallizability controlled by the average sequence length and reached the minimum value at an M_PBS of about 50–60 mol%. The results can also be ascribed to the co‐crystallization between two structurally analogous hard segments. Mechanical testing results demonstrated that incorporating a certain amount of PBS moieties (less than 30 mol%), at the expense of a minute depression of the elastic modulus, that higher relative elongation and more flexibility of polymer chain could be expected. Maximum equilibrium water absorption and faster degradation rates were observed on samples with higher M_PBS values and lower crystallinity of hard segments were better hydrophilicity of the polymer chain, through in vitro degradation experiments. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis of novel optically active poly(ester‐imide)s with benzophenone linkages by microwave‐assisted polycondensation

A new simple and rapid polycondensation reaction of 4,4′‐carbonyl‐bis(phthaloyl‐L ‐alanine)diacid chloride [N,N ′‐(4,4′‐carbonyldiphthaloyl)]bisalanine diacid chloride with several diphenols, such as bisphenol‐A, phenolphthalein, 1,8‐dihydroxyanthraquinone, 4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenyl, 1,5‐dihydroxynaphthalene and hydroquinone, in the presence of a small amount of a polar organic medium such as o‐cresol was performed using a domestic microwave oven. The polycondensation reaction proceeded rapidly and was almost complete within 12 min to give a series of poly(ester‐imide)s with inherent viscosities of about 0.35–0.58 dl g⁻¹. The resulting poly(ester‐imide)s were obtained in high yield and are optically active and thermally stable. All the above compounds have been fully characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, inherent viscosity (η_inh), solubility test and specific rotation. Thermal properties of the poly(ester‐imide)s have been investigated using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of oligomers containing the α‐aminoalkylphenone chromophore as oligomeric photoinitiator

An oligomeric photoinitiator containing α‐aminoalkylphenone photoactive chromophore in the main chain was prepared from diphenyl ether, α‐chloroisobutyryl chloride, and piperazine through acylation, bromination, epoxidation, and polycondensation. The obtained oligomeric photoinitiator was characterized by GPC, TGA, traditional DSC, FTIR, NMR, UV–vis absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of the oligomeric photoinitiator was determined to be 2000–4000. The excitation and emission wavelengths of the fluorescence spectra were 376 and 473 nm, respectively. The thermal stability of the oligomer was found to be perfect with a decomposition temperature greater than 300°C. All the spectroscopic and thermal analyses clearly confirmed the consistence of property and structure. In a comparative photo‐DSC investigation, the oligomeric photoinitiator showed high photoinitiating efficiency while using 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate as monomer. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 3417–3424, 2006     

Synthesis of poly(methylphenylsiloxane)/phenylene‐silica hybrid material with interpenetrating networks and its performance as thermal resistant coating

In this study, poly(methylphenylsiloxane) (PMPS) and phenylene‐silica based hybrid material with interpenetrating networks was prepared by a two‐step sol–gel process. Firstly, in the presence of H₂SO₄, the phenylene‐silica was formed as sol particles with high branching degree by cohydrolysis and condensation of phenylene‐bridged monomer, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), and hexamethyldisiloxane (MM). Then, the intermediate transformed into gel framework in polymer matrix using alkali catalyst, in order to produce a homogenous hybrid material with interpenetrating networks. The structure of prepared hybrid material was characterized by FTIR and NMR, suggesting that phenylene‐silica framework was imported into polymer matrix and the hybrid products have a much higher network chain density than neat PMPS. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that the prepared materials start to degrade at around 490°C. The results of tensile test indicate that the typical PMPS/phenylene‐silica hybrid material has a tensile strength up to 26 MPa and demonstrate a certain degree of flexibility. An increase of phenylene content in phenylene‐silica particles tends to produce hybrid materials with improved thermal stability and tensile strength. The hybrid coating films after calcinating at 350 and 400°C for 2 h exhibit a good mechanical performance on adhesion, impact strength and flexibility. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements show that the investigated films have an extremely high electric resistance (10¹⁰ Ohm·cm²) and a satisfied impermeability to 3.5 wt % sodium chloride solution. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Synthesis and characterization of novel optically active poly(amide–imide)s containing N,N′‐(pyromellitoyl)‐bis‐L‐valine diacid chloride and 5,5‐disubstituted hydantoin derivatives under microwave irradiation

Pyromellitic dianhydride (1,2,4,5‐benzenetetracarboxylic acid 1,2,4,5‐dianhydide) was reacted with L ‐valine in a mixture of acetic acid and pyridine (3:2) at room temperature, and then was refluxed at 90–100 °C, N,N′‐(pyromellitoyl)‐bis‐L ‐valine diacid was obtained in quantitative yield. The imide–acid was converted to N,N′‐(pyromellitoyl)‐bis‐L ‐valine diacid chloride by reaction with thionyl chloride. Rapid and highly efficient synthesis of a number of poly(amide–imide)s was achieved under microwave irradiation using a domestic microwave oven by polycondensation of N,N′‐(pyromellitoyl)‐bis‐L ‐valine diacid chloride with six different derivatives of 5,5‐disubstituted hydantoin compounds in the presence of a small amount of a polar organic medium that acts as a primary microwave absorber. A suitable organic medium was o‐cresol. The polycondensation proceeded rapidly, compared with conventional melt polycondensation and solution polycondensation and was almost completed within 8 min, giving a series of poly(amide–imide)s with inherent viscosities in the range 0.15–0.36 dl g^?1. The resulting poly(amide–imide)s were obtained in high yield and are optically active and thermally stable. All of the above compounds were fully characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, inherent viscosity (η_inh) measurements, solubility testing and specific rotation measurements. The thermal properties of the poly(amide–imide)s were investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and characterization of soluble copoly(aryl ether ketone)s containing hindering structures

New copoly(aryl ether ketone)s have been synthesized by polycondensation of 2,2′,3,3′,6,6′‐hexaphenyl‐4,4′‐diphenol, 2,2′‐p‐hydroxyphenyl‐iso‐propane, and 4,4′‐difluorobenzophenone. The technology of ¹³C‐NMR was used to determine contents of the two bisphenols in the copolymers. Chain structure was characterized by illustrating average block length (L_A, L_C) in terms of portion of the triads (AKA, CKC, AKC). The obtained copoly(aryl ether ketone)s have the properties of excellent solubility, high heat‐resistance, good tensile strength, and good selectivity for gas permeability. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 20–24, 2000     

Synthesis and characterization of novel heat resistance poly(amide‐imide)s from N,N′‐[2,5‐bis(4‐aminobenzylidene) cyclopentanone] bistrimellitimide acid and various aromatic diamines

A new‐type of dicarboxylic acid was synthesized from the reaction of 2,5‐bis(4‐aminobenzylidene)cyclopentanone with trimellitic anhydride in a solution of glacial acetic acid/pyridine (Py) at refluxing temperature. Six novel heat resistance poly(amide‐imide)s (PAIs) with good inherent viscosities were synthesized, from the direct polycondensation reaction of N,N′‐[2,5‐bis(4‐aminobenzylidene)cyclopentanone]bistrimellitimide acid with several aromatic diamines, by two different methods such as direct polycondensation in a medium consisting of N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP)/triphenyl phosphite (TPP)/calcium chloride (CaCl₂)/pyridine (Py) and direct polycondensation in a p‐toluene sulfonyl chloride (tosyl chloride, TsCl)/pyridine (Py)/N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) system. All of the above polymers were fully characterized by ¹H NMR, FTIR, elemental analysis, inherent viscosity, solubility tests, UV‐vis spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and derivative of thermaogravimetric (DTG). The resulted poly(amide‐imide)s (PAIs) have showed admirable good inherent viscosities, thermal stability, and solubility. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis of new poly(amide–imide)s derived from trimellitylimido‐L‐phenylalanine

N‐Trimellitylimido‐L ‐phenylalanine was prepared from the reaction of 1,2,4‐benzenetricarboxylic anhydride with L ‐phenylalanine in N,N‐dimethylformamide solution at refluxing temperature. The direct polycondensation reaction of the monomer imide‐diacid with 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylsulfone, 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane, 1,4‐phenylenediamine, 1,3‐phenylenediamine, 2,4‐diaminotoluene, 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylether and benzidine was carried out in a medium consisting of triphenyl phosphite, N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, pyridine and calcium chloride. The resulting poly(amide–imide)s, PAIs, having inherent viscosities of 0.21–0.45 dlg^?1 were obtained in high yield. All of the above compounds were fully characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The optical rotation of all PAIs has also been measured. Some structural characterization and physical properties of these new optically active PAIs are reported. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of two polytrimellitamideimide series with different segment order by direct polycondensation

Poly(amide–imide) (PAI) could be synthesized in regular segment order from trimellitic anhydride (TMA) and various aromatic diamines. By different processes, PAI_{h‐h‐t‐t} containing alternating (amide–amide)–(imide–imide) sequences and PAI_h‐t containing amide–imide sequences could be obtained through direct polycondensation. Comparison of PAI_{h‐h‐t‐t} and PAI_h‐t, which had different sequence orders and were prepared from TMA and 12 diamines, showed that the latter had better solubility and needed less quantity of solvent and salt (CaCl₂) during polymerization, but both two series PAI using p‐substituted diamines (e.g., p‐phenylenediamine) showed poor solubility. Series PAI_{h‐h‐t‐t} possessed larger initial modulus but smaller elongation at break than series PAI_h‐t. For the thermal properties, most of series PAI_h‐t had glass transition temperatures higher than corresponding series PAI_{h‐h‐t‐t}, but these two series were similar in the 10% weight loss temperatures and the char yields at 800°C in nitrogen. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 1556–1567, 2001     

Synthesis and physicochemical characterization of poly(azomethine)esters containing aliphatic/aromatic moieties: Electrical studies complemented by DFT calculation

A conducting poly(azomethine)ester was prepared by solution phase polycondensation of a preformed Schiff base, 4‐((4‐(4‐(4‐hydroxybenzlideneamino) phenoxy)phenylimino)methyl)phenol and isophthaloyl chloride (I). Different aliphatic/aromatic moieties were incorporated for examining their effect on the electronic properties of material. The resulting polymers (10^?4 to 25 S cm^?1) were doped with silver (10^?6 to 10^?2 S cm^?1) and blended with polyaniline (10^?1 to 13.4 S cm^?1) to enhance their electrical conductivity. Polymer/polyaniline blends had superior conductivity even at low polyaniline concentration relative to the silver‐doped chains. The data obtained experimentally were complemented by density function theory at the 6–31G/B3LYP level. The results showed that ΔE along with lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and highest occupied molecular orbital electron density accounts for the electrical properties. Spectroscopic (¹HNMR, FTIR) and elemental analysis were used for structural elucidation. Structure–property relation in term of WXRD, SEM‐EDX, atomic force microscope, LLS, and thermal behavior was studied. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40698.