The application of response surface methodology on the synthesis of conductive polyaniline/cellulosic fiber nanocomposites

The chemical oxidation polymerization was used in situ aimed at preparing polyaniline/cellulosic fiber nanocomposites that are highly intrinsic and conductive in nature. The prepared composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) thermal Gravimetric analysis (TGA), and their morphology was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) to elucidate the mechanism of conductivity decay of the paper nanocomposite. Box-Behnken experimental design method was applied to determine the optimum synthesis parameters. The optimum conditions were found to be surfactant type: cationic, mass ratio of fibers/aniline: 0.5, and time of polymerization: 12 h. The result of the subsequent investigation of the properties which are mechanical and related to the paper sheets revealed that adding PANi decreases the amounts of breaking length, and tear and burst factors.