| Abstract: | The effect of plasma treatment on the surface characteristics and conductivity of polyaniline–nylon 6 composite fabrics was investigated. Plasma surface modifications with oxygen, ammonia, and argon were performed on the nylon 6 fabrics to improve the adhesion and rate of polymerization. The surface morphology of the fiber was observed with scanning electron microscopy, and functional groups introduced onto the surface of nylon 6 fibers by various plasma treatments were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. With oxygen plasma treatment, the fiber surface was effectively etched; polar groups such as ? OH and ? OOH were introduced onto the surface of nylon 6 fiber, and they increased surface activity, promoted oxidation polymerization, and resulted in higher add‐on and electrical conductivity. However, the introduced amine and amide groups with ammonia treatment caused a reduction in conductivity. Argon did not significantly alter the surface characteristics of the nylon 6 fibers. In addition, to control fabric conductivity and cover as wide a range of conductivity as possible, we observed the effects of the monomer concentration and number of deposits on the fabric conductivity. The results showed that fabric conductivity increased as the monomer concentration increased up to 0.5M and then leveled off, and further increases were achieved with an increase in the number of multiple deposits. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 684–694, 2001 |
