Physicochemical properties of biocomposites prepared by thermoset resin in situ polymerization

The development of composite materials with fewer interface problems always helps to obtaining good properties. Two types of insulating biopolymers (7% w/w) were incorporated into a conductive matrix (polyaniline) during polymerization. The synthesis method, inspired by the synthesis of polyaniline and the coating of chitosan for the development of flexible electrodes, produces thermosets that are more thermally stable than the matrix until 350 °C. While one (gum) reduces the electrical conductivity, the other (lignin) increases the basic value of the raw material (~ 0.72 S Cm^–1) by a factor of 10. The physicochemical and morphological analyses show the formation of the polymer on the surface of the biopolymer with the appearance of new chemical bonds by interactions between hydroxyls of the biopolymer and the nitrogen of amine function from the polyaniline.