In-Situ polymerization of pyrrole on cotton fabric to develop conductive properties

The present paper reports studies in-situ polymerization of pyrrole on cotton fabric to develop conductive properties. Cotton fabric having plain weave has been treated with ferric chloride as oxidant and pyrrole monomer to produce in situ polypyrrole (Ppy). This polymerization of polypyrrole cotton substrates carried out in water circulating bath for maintaining desired polymerization temperature. The synthesizing parameters which govern the properties of the resulting conductive fabrics such as monomer concentration, oxidant concentration, monomer and oxidant molar ratio, polymerization time, polymerization temperature have been studied. The polypyrrole coated cotton fabrics are also characterized for their electrical, morphology, physical and mechanical properties. The conductivity of the fabric was in the range 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻¹ S/cm. The polymerization temperature of 4°C and polymerization duration of 4h is found to be optimum for the synthesis.