Abstract
A study was made to design a copolymer of aniline and o-toluidine and its
composite with carbon fiber (CF) in making PANIoTCFN sheets for controlling
electromagnetic interference. PANIoTTCFN composite synthesized by emulsion
polymerization was physically blended with different proportions of novolac resin to
prepare a composite sheet by hot press compression moulding. In-situ incorporation
of carbon fiber into the copolymer during the synthesis leads to the formation of
composites with improved mechanical, thermal, electrical, and shielding properties.
Structural and morphological studies were carried out by FTIR, XRD, and SEM.
PANIoTCFN composite sheets with 50 % loading of novolac resin have a flexural
strength of 52.4 MPa and exhibited shielding effectiveness of 26 dB at a thickness of
1.48 mm of the composite sheet, which reveals that these composite sheets can be
used for EMI shielding applications.
Keywords: Carbon Fiber, Conducting Copolymer Composites, Conducting Polymer, EMI Shielding, Polyaniline, Poly (o-Toluidine) Copolymer.