| Abstract: | A measuring method for a conductivity change through a current change during extension deformation or compression deformation of conductive elastomeric composites composed of a polyaniline (PAn)/styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) triblock copolymer was established. The composites were prepared by in situ emulsion polymerization of aniline in the presence of SBS using dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) as an emulsifier and a dopant. The product was melt‐processed (MP), solution‐processed (SP), or secondary doped with m‐cresol (SSP). The results for measurement of the conductivity change of the composites processed by the three different methods showed that for the MP and SP samples conductivity increases with extension, whereas for the SSP sample when the PAn content is lower than the percolation threshold, conductivity diminishes with increasing extension, but when the PAn content exceeds the percolation threshold value, conductivity followed an empirical equation with a maximum value. During compression, the conductivities of most of the MP, SP, and SSP samples exhibited a maximum value with change of the compression force, except the MP sample with a higher PAn content, the conductivity of which increased with the compression force. All the differences are related to their different morphological structures. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 2156–2164, 2000 |
