Polymerising pyrrole on polyester textiles and controlling the conductivity through coating thickness

The surface resistance of polypyrrole (PPy)-coated polyester fabrics was investigated and related to coating thickness, which was controlled by adjusting the reactant concentrations. The thickness of the coating initially increased rapidly followed by a steady increase when the concentration of pyrrole (Py) was larger than a concentration of approximately 0.4 mg/ml. The surface resistance decreased from 10⁶ to 10³ Ω with increase in pyrrole concentration within 0.2 mg/ml until the concentration reached a value of about 0.4 mg/ml, above which the rate of decrease diminished. The effect of initial treatment with monomer or oxidant prior to polymerisation reaction with regards to thickness and surface resistance was minimal. The immersion time of the textile into the monomer solution prior to polymerisation reaction did not have a significant effect on the abrasion resistance.