Annealing effect on electromechanical behaviour of polyanilines organic acids-doped

This work presents an extensive experimental qualification of an innovative polyaniline synthesized by a more sustainable approach as sensing element. The electromechanical properties of polyanilines prepared by two different approaches (PANI1 from a traditional method and PANI2 from a more environmentally friendly route) are investigated in order to verify the applicability of these materials for the development of force and pressure transducers. The two PANI were chemically characterised and investigated through several mechanical tests. The variation of their resistance was continuously monitored during loading/unloading cycles up to 40 kN after heat treatment in order to evaluate the modification of the electromechanical properties at different temperatures. It was observed that both the polyanilines exhibit a strong change of their resistance value as function of the compression load acting on the samples. Moreover, PANI2 shows a high resistance which is a good property for insert the element into any measurement circuit avoiding problems of impedance losses due to cables or other circuit elements. The results will also show that both PANIs have steady behaviour at high temperatures up to 85°–100 °C.